Belknap
Shield(s) in United States
Key Facts
Elevation
2,094 m (6,870 ft)
Type
Shield(s)
Location
44.285°, -121.842°
Region
High Cascades Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The Belknap Crater area near McKenzie Pass in Oregon, north of the Three Sisters volcanoes, was the source of one of the largest concentrations of youthful volcanism in the Cascade Range. The basaltic to basaltic andesite Belknap shield volcano, topped by the Belknap Crater pyroclastic cone and the Little Belknap shield volcano immediately to the east, have produced widespread late Holocene lava flows on all sides, much of which took place between about 3,000 and 1,500 years ago. Eruptions from the NE base of Belknap crater produced lava flows that traveled 15 km W into the McKenzie River valley.
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 | 1551 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in North America Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 322060
- •Evidence: Eruption Dated
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The McKenzie Pass area in the central Oregon Cascades contains one of the largest concentrations of recent volcanism in the United States. Belknap shield volcano, seen here from Black Crater to the SE, is capped by a smaller snow-covered cone. Lava flows from Belknap and the smaller Little Belknap shield volcano in front of it cover nearly 100 km2. Most of the largely unvegetated flows were erupted between about 2,900 and 1,500 years ago.
Photo by Lee Siebert, 1995 (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.