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Ghegham Volcanic Ridge

Volcanic field in Armenia

Last Eruption: -1900

Key Facts

Elevation

3,597 m (11,801 ft)

Type

Volcanic field

Location

40.283°, 45.000°

Region

Caucasus Volcanic Province

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Intraplate

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The Ghegham Volcanic Ridge, located in west-central Armenia between the capital city of Yerevan and Lake Sevan, contains as many as 127 volcanic centers, lava domes and pyroclastic cones, of Pleistocene-to-Holocene age. The volcanoes and associated lava flows cover a 65-km-long, 35-km-wide area west of Lake Sevan and south of the Hrazdan River and are concentrated along three NNW-SSE-trending alignments. Lava flows from the central and eastern clusters flowed into Lake Sevan.

Initial explosive eruptions in the volcanic field were followed by the extrusion of rhyolitic obsidian lava domes and flows. The latest activity produced a series of andesitic and basaltic andesite cinder cones and lava flows. The central and eastern portions of the field contain large areas of Holocene eruptions with morphologically fresh lava flows devoid of vegetation.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    Risk Level

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskModerate
    Aviation RiskSignificant

    Geological Composition & Structure

    Rock Types

    Primary
    Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
    Silica Content
    Intermediate (57-63% SiO₂)

    Tectonic Setting

    Intraplate
    Continental rift or intraplate setting with varied eruptive styles.

    Age & Formation

    Epoch
    Holocene
    Evidence
    Eruption Dated

    Eruption Statistics & Analysis

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
    Recent Activity3926 years agoHistoricalHistorically active

    Monitoring & Alert Status

    Monitoring Networks

    Global Volcanism Program
    International eruption database

    Current Status

    Normal
    No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

    Nearby Volcanoes in Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions

    Regional Volcanic Activity
    The Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

    Quick Info

    • •Smithsonian ID: 214070
    • •Evidence: Eruption Dated
    • •Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    The snow-capped cones of the Ghegam Ridge volcanic field rise across Lake Sevan from a fishing village on its NE shore. This volcanic field in west-central Armenia covers a 35-km-wide area between the capital city of Yerevan and Lake Sevan. Morphologically youthful lava flows from the central and eastern portions of Ghegam Ridge flowed into Lake Sevan.

    Photo by Ivan Savov, 2002 (Smithsonian Institution).

    Authority Sources

    Smithsonian GVP
    Official volcano database
    USGS Volcano Hazards
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Global Volcanism Program
    Smithsonian Institution

    Related Volcanoes

    In Armenia:
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    By Type:
    Caldera Volcanoes
    Large collapse features
    By Region:
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    Subduction zone volcanoes

    Basic Information

    This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.