Baker
Stratovolcano(es) in United States
Key Facts
Elevation
3,285 m (10,778 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano(es)
Location
48.777°, -121.813°
Region
Garibaldi Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Mount Baker, the northernmost of Washington's volcanoes, is a glacier-clad andesitic stratovolcano constructed above the E flank of the eroded mid-Pleistocene Black Buttes volcano and SW of the early Pleistocene 4. 5 x 8 km rhyodacitic Kulshan caldera. With the exception of the Schreibers Meadow cinder cone on the SE flank, which formed about 9,800 years ago, Holocene volcanism has been confined to the central conduit.
A major eruption about 6,500 years ago, it's largest eruptive event during the Holocene, was accompanied by a collapse that sent lahars down the Nooksack drainage. Early settlers in the Puget Sound region as far away as Victoria, British Columbia, observed 19th-century activity, all of which consisted of relatively minor phreatic eruptions. Sherman Crater, the historically active crater immediately south of the summit, has been the site of increased steam emission since 1975.
The Nooksack Indian Tribe referred to the volcano as Kweq Smaenit, the "White Mountain. " The Lummi Nation knew Mount Baker as Koma Kulshan.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | 146 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in North America Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 321010
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The glaciated Mount Baker is the northernmost of Washington's active volcanoes in the northern Cascade Range, seen here from the SE above Baker Lake. Historical eruptions have originated from Sherman Crater to the left of the summit. Minor phreatic explosions were observed during the 19th century by early settlers in the Puget Sound area as far away as Victoria, British Columbia.
Photo by Lee Siebert, 1981 (Smithsonian Institution).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.