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Roundtop

Stratovolcano in United States

Last Eruption: -7600

Key Facts

Elevation

1,871 m (6,138 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

54.800°, -163.589°

Region

Aleutian Ridge Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Rhyolite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The flat-topped, glacier-covered Roundtop is the easternmost and lowest of an E-W-trending line of volcanoes on eastern Unimak Island, 13 km SW of the village of False Pass. The snow and ice-covered edifice fills much of a 3-km-wide caldera that formed during the early Holocene. The caldera-forming eruption produced pyroclastic flows and a rhyolitic tephra layer that is widespread throughout the southwestern end of the Alaska Peninsula.

A group of lava domes was constructed south of the volcano. No historical eruptions are known, but in the 1930's warm springs were found on its slopes.

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

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

Age & Formation

Epoch
Holocene
Evidence
Eruption Dated

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity9626 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 North America Volcanic Regions

Regional Volcanic Activity
The North America 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: 311380
  • Evidence: Eruption Dated
  • Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

Glacier-covered Roundtop volcano is seen here to the west of False Pass village, is the easternmost and lowest of an E-W-trending line of volcanoes on Unimak Island. Roundtop has produced Holocene pyroclastic flows, and a group of lava domes to the south.

Photo by Game McGimsey, 1998 (Alaska Volcano Observatory, 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.