Great Sitkin
Stratovolcano in United States
Key Facts
Elevation
1,740 m (5,709 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
52.076°, -176.130°
Region
Aleutian Ridge Volcanic Arc
Total Eruptions
9
Max VEI
VEI 2
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Eruption Timeline
Most recent confirmed eruption
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Overview
The Great Sitkin volcano forms much of the northern side of Great Sitkin Island. A younger volcano capped by a small, 0. 8 x 1.
2 km ice-filled summit caldera was constructed within a large late-Pleistocene or early Holocene scarp formed by massive edifice failure that truncated an older edifice and produced a submarine debris avalanche. Deposits from this and an even older debris avalanche from a source to the south cover a broad area of the ocean floor north of the volcano. The summit lies along the eastern rim of the younger collapse scarp.
Deposits from an earlier caldera-forming eruption of unknown age cover the flanks of the island to a depth up to 6 m. The small younger caldera was partially filled by lava domes emplaced in 1945 and 1974, and five small older flank lava domes, two of which lie on the coastline, were constructed along northwest- and NNW-trending lines. Hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles occur near the head of Big Fox Creek, south of the volcano.
Eruptions have been recorded since the late-19th century.
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 | 9 | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI 2 | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | 1 years ago | Very Recent | Currently active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in North America Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 311120
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Great Sitkin in the Andreanof Islands is seen here from Finger Bay on Adak Island. The edifice was constructed within a caldera, part of which forms the high snow-covered peak to the right. The post-caldera cone contains a 0.8 x 1.2 km ice-filled summit crater. The rim forms the irregular summit on the left horizon. A lava dome 400-600 m wide was emplaced through a glacier in 1945.
Photo by Fred Zeillemaker, 1982 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, courtesy of Alaska Volcano Observatory).
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.