Taunshits
Stratovolcano in Russia
Key Facts
Elevation
2,301 m (7,549 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
54.528°, 159.804°
Region
Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Taunshits volcano, located west of the massive Uzon caldera, is an andesitic stratovolcano that was constructed beginning about 39,000 years before present (BP) on top of a large Pleistocene tuya pedestal. The summit is truncated by an open crater breached to the west that formed about 8,000 BP during an eruption producing a directed blast and a 3 km3 debris avalanche that traveled 19 km W. Another strong explosive eruption took place about 2,500 BP.
Two satellitic cones occupy the S flank, and a cluster of Holocene cinder cones farther to the south may also be related to Taunshits.
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 | 2576 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Northwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 300160
- •Evidence: Eruption Dated
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The western side of Taunshits contains a large horseshoe-shaped crater that formed about 8,000 years ago during an eruption that produced a debris avalanche and directed blast similar to that at Mount St. Helens in 1980. A viscous lava flow (center) erupted after the collapse from a vent at the top of the collapse scarp.
Photo by Nikolai Smelov, 1998 (courtesy of Vera Ponomareva, Institute of Volcanic Geology and Geochemistry, Petropavlovsk).
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.