Kharimkotan
Stratovolcano in Russia
Key Facts
Elevation
1,145 m (3,757 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
49.120°, 154.508°
Region
Kuril Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The 8 x 12 km island of Kharimkotan (also spelled Harimkotan) in the northern Kuriles consists of a stratovolcano cut by two breached depressions on the east and NW sides. These horseshoe-shaped craters were formed by slope failure, which produced debris-avalanche deposits that form large broad peninsulas on the east and NW coasts. Evidence of additional slope failures followed by plinian eruptions are found in sea cliffs of the island.
Historical explosive eruptions have occurred since the early 18th century. A central cone, Severgin, was largely destroyed during the 1933 eruption, one of the largest in the Kuril Islands during historical time. Impact of a debris avalanche into the sea from the collapse of Severgin produced a tsunami that swept the island's coast and reached Onekotan and Paramushir Islands, killing two people.
A large lava dome emplaced during the 1933 eruption now fills the head of the eastern crater.
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 | 93 years ago | Historical | Recently active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Northwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 290300
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The east side of the 8 x 12 km island of Kharimkotan has a large open crater that formed when the summit collapsed in 1933. The dark-colored lava dome in the center of the photo grew inside the crater towards the end of the 1933 eruption. This and another scarp on the NW side of the island were formed by flank collapse events that produced debris avalanche deposits that created broad peninsulas on the E and NW coasts.
Photo by Alexander Belousov, 1994 (Institute of Volcanology, Kamchatka, Russia).
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.