Karkar
Stratovolcano in Papua New Guinea
Key Facts
Elevation
1,839 m (6,033 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
-4.647°, 145.976°
Region
Bismarck Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
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Overview
Karkar is a 19 x 25 km forest-covered island that is truncated by two nested summit calderas. The 5. 5 km outer caldera was formed during one or more eruptions, the last of which occurred 9,000 years ago.
The steep-walled 300-m-deep, 3. 2 km diameter, inner caldera was formed sometime between 1,500 and 800 years ago. Cones are present on the N and S flanks of this basaltic-to-andesitic volcano; a linear array of small cones extends from the northern rim of the outer caldera nearly to the coast.
Recorded eruptions date back to 1643 from Bagiai, a pyroclastic cone constructed within the inner caldera, the floor of which is covered by young, mostly unvegetated andesitic lava flows.
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 | 47 years ago | Recent | Recently active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 251030
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
An ash plume rises above the summit of Karkar volcano in 1979. There are two nested summit calderas at the summit of the forested volcano resulting in a broad, low profile. The 5.5-km-wide outer caldera was formed during one or more eruptions, the last of which occurred 9,000 years ago. The 3.2-km-wide inner caldera was formed sometime between 1,500 and 800 years ago. Most historical eruptions, like this one in 1979, have originated from Bagiai cone within the 300-m-deep inner caldera.
Photo by Wally Johnson, 1979 (Australia Bureau of Mineral Resources).
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.