🌋VolcanoAtlas

Pagan

Stratovolcano(es) in United States

Last Eruption: 2021

Key Facts

Elevation

570 m (1,870 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano(es)

Location

18.130°, 145.800°

Region

Mariana Volcanic Arc

Total Eruptions

21

Max VEI

VEI 4

Rock Type

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Eruption Timeline

2021 CENotable

Most recent confirmed eruption

2014 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

2004 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1997 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1977 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1974 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1964 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1949 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1942 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1937 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1935 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1930 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1905 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1902 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1892 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1872 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1869 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1844 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1824 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1809 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

Overview

Pagan Island, the largest and one of the most active of the Mariana Islands volcanoes, consists of two stratovolcanoes connected by a narrow isthmus. Both North and South Pagan stratovolcanoes were constructed within calderas, 7 and 4 km in diameter, respectively. North Pagan at the NE end of the island rises above the flat floor of the northern caldera, which may have formed less than 1,000 years ago.

South Pagan is a stratovolcano with an elongated summit containing four distinct craters. Almost all of the recorded eruptions, which date back to the 17th century, have originated from North Pagan. The largest eruption during historical time took place in 1981 and prompted the evacuation of the sparsely populated island.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    Risk Level

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskHigh
    Aviation RiskSignificant

    Geological Composition & Structure

    Rock Types

    Primary
    Basalt / Picro-Basalt
    Silica Content
    Low (45-52% SiO₂)

    Tectonic Setting

    Subduction zone
    Formed by oceanic plate subduction, typically producing explosive eruptions due to water-rich magmas.

    Age & Formation

    Epoch
    Holocene
    Evidence
    Eruption Observed

    Eruption Statistics & Analysis

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded Eruptions21HighHighly active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI 4MajorRegional impact potential
    Recent Activity5 years agoVery RecentCurrently active

    Monitoring & Alert Status

    Monitoring Networks

    Global Volcanism Program
    International eruption database

    Current Status

    Active
    Recent volcanic activity detected. Continuous monitoring in place.

    Nearby Volcanoes in Northwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions

    Regional Volcanic Activity
    The Northwestern Pacific 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: 284170
    • Evidence: Eruption Observed
    • Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    Pagan Island, the largest and one of the most active of the Mariana Islands, consists of two volcanoes connected by a narrow isthmus. Both North and South Pagan were constructed within calderas. North Pagan, the most active of the two, is seen here from the west coast of the isthmus, SW of the summit; it was constructed within a 7-km-wide caldera.

    Photo by Norm Banks, 1983 (U.S. Geological Survey).

    Basic Information

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