Kasatochi
Stratovolcano in United States
Key Facts
Elevation
314 m (1,030 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
52.177°, -175.508°
Region
Aleutian Ridge Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Located at the northern end of a shallow submarine ridge trending perpendicular to the Aleutian arc, Kasatochi is small 2. 7 x 3. 3 km island volcano with a 750-m-wide summit crater lake.
The summit reaches only about 300 m elevation, and the lake surface lies less than about 60 m above the sea. A lava dome is located on the NW flank at about 150 m elevation. The asymmetrical island is steeper on the northern side than the southern, and the crater lies north of the center of the island.
Reports of activity from the heavily eroded Koniuji volcano to the east probably refer to eruptions from Kasatochi. A lava flow may have been emplaced during the first recorded eruption in 1760. A major explosive eruption in 2008 produced pyroclastic flows and surges that swept into the sea, extending the island's shoreline.
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 | 18 years ago | Recent | Recently active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in North America Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 311130
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
A 750-m-wide crater filled with a lake truncates the summit of Kasatochi. Crater walls rise to a maximum height of 314 m above the lake surface, which is less than 60 m above sea level in this 1961 photo. The volcano is located at the northern end of a shallow submarine ridge trending perpendicular to the Aleutian arc and occupies an island volcano 2.7 x 3.3 km wide.
Photo by Dan Rogers, 1961 (courtesy of Alaska Volcano Observatory, U.S. Geological Survey).
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.