Elbrus
Stratovolcano in Russia
Key Facts
Elevation
5,642 m (18,510 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
43.351°, 42.442°
Region
Caucasus Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Dacite
Tectonic Setting
Intraplate
Location
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Overview
Elbrus, the highest peak of the Caucasus Mountains of SW Russia, is a large glaciated stratovolcano. The summit area has two distinct peaks about 1 km apart, with a 250-m-wide crater on the eastern cone, separated by a low saddle from the western peak. Eruptive products cover 260 km2; its longest lava flow traveled 24 km down the NNE flank.
Vlodavetz (in Blumenthal et al. , 1964, CAVW) hypothesized that the most recent lava flows were 2,000-3,000 years old based on morphological appearance. Gushchenko (1979) noted explosive activity and a lava flow across a glacial moraine, and dated it at around 2,000 years ago.
Weak solfataric activity has been reported near the summit, and hot springs are present on the flanks.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
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 | 1976 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 214010
- •Evidence: Eruption Dated
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Mount Elbrus, the highest peak of the Caucasus Mountains of SW Russia, contains glaciers on its flanks. Elbrus has two summits separated by a low saddle. Snow-filled craters are visible in this image at both the eastern and western summits. Products of Mount Elbrus cover 260 km2 with its longest lava flow reaching 24 km down the NNE flank. Elbrus has been active into the Holocene. Weak fumarolic activity near the summit continues and hot springs are present on the flanks.
Image courtesy of Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center, 2002 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov).
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.