Fisher Caldera

Summary

Fisher Caldera, also known as Mount Fisher and Fisher Volcano, is a large volcanic caldera, measuring about 6.8 miles (11 km) by 11 miles (18 km), located on Unimak Island in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.[1] Formed by the destructive eruption of an andesitic stratovolcano about 9,100 years ago,[1] it contains three crater lakes, one 2 miles (3.2 km) wide and two others about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide. Small peaks rising 2,000 feet (600 m) and 2,031 feet (619 m) are also present in the caldera. Fisher Caldera is located just 13 miles (21 km) from the Mount Westdahl volcano.

Fisher Caldera
Satellite picture of Unimak Island with Fisher Caldera
Highest point
Elevation3,648 ft (1,112 m)[1]
Coordinates54°40′N 164°23′W / 54.667°N 164.383°W / 54.667; -164.383
Geography
LocationUnimak Island, Alaska,
United States
Parent rangeAleutian Range
Topo mapUSGS Unimak C4
Geology
Mountain typeStratovolcano remnant
Volcanic arc/beltAleutian Arc
Last eruptionAugust 1830

The largest volcanic eruption on Earth during the Holocene Epoch (the last 11,700 years) occurred at Fisher Caldera in 8700 BCE.[2]

Maps of Alaskan volcanoes with Fisher Caldera
Aerial view of Fisher Caldera, with Eickelberg Peak in upper left corner

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Fisher Caldera Description and Information". Alaska Volcano Observatory. 4 June 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  2. ^ Oppenheimer, Clive (2011). "Appendix A". Eruptions that Shook the World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 355–356. ISBN 978-0-521-64112-8.

External links edit

See also edit