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Nemrut Dagi

Stratovolcano in Turkiye

Last Eruption: 1650

Key Facts

Elevation

2,948 m (9,672 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

38.654°, 42.229°

Region

Central Anatolian Volcanic Province

Rock Type

Rhyolite

Tectonic Setting

Intraplate

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Nemrut Dagi is the westernmost of a group of volcanoes near Lake Van in eastern Anatolia and the only one that has erupted in historical time. It contains a 9 x 5 km caldera partially filled on its western side by a caldera lake. Post-caldera volcanism, of basaltic to rhyolitic composition, initially occurred along the caldera rim and floor.

Pyroclastic flows and the emission of glassy obsidian lava flows accompanied construction of lava domes within the caldera; later activity formed a series of cinder cones and lava domes erupted along N-S-trending fissures on the northern flank. The most recent activity has been concentrated along a NNW-trending fissure cutting the eastern caldera floor and extending beyond the north caldera rim; nearly two dozen cinder cones and lava domes were constructed on the caldera floor. Ash layers in Lake Van document numerous Holocene eruptions, and an eruption in 1441 CE from a N-flank fissure involved compositionally bimodal lava flows.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate
Infrastructure RiskModerate
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Rhyolite
Silica Content
High (>68% SiO₂)

Tectonic Setting

Intraplate
Continental rift or intraplate setting with varied eruptive styles.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Holocene
Evidence
Eruption Observed

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity376 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: 213020
  • Evidence: Eruption Observed
  • Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

The summit of Nemrut Dagi is truncated by a 5 x 9 km caldera near Lake Van in eastern Turkey. A lake that partially fills the western side of the caldera is constrained by post-caldera eruptions that produced glassy obsidian lava flows from domes on the eastern caldera floor. A series of scoria cones and lava domes were erupted along N-S-trending fissures on the northern flank. Ash layers in Lake Van document numerous Holocene eruptions from Nemrut Dagi.

NASA International Space Station image ISS001-E-6354, 2001 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).

Basic Information

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