Akutan Volcano

Updated: Mar 28, 2025 22:47 GMT - refresh

Stratovolcano

Aleutian Islands, USA, 54.13°N / -165.99°W

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Summit height: 1303 m / 4,275 ft

Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)

Last update: 24 Feb 2022 (small earthquake swarms)

Akutan volcano is one of the most active stratovolcanoes of the Aleutian arc. The volcano has a 2-km-wide caldera with an active intracaldera cone.

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Akutan webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: unspecified
Akutan volcano eruptions: 1992

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
Mar 21, 09:11 pm (Universal Time)	1.9 121 km	10.7 km (6.7 mi) to the W	24 km W of Akutan, Alaska	Info
Thursday, March 20, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Mar 20, 12:14 am (Universal Time)	0.8 16 km	13 km (8 mi) to the S	21 km SW of Akutan, Alaska	Info
Mar 20, 12:13 am (Universal Time)	0.8 17 km	10.9 km (6.8 mi) to the SW	22 km WSW of Akutan, Alaska	Info

View recent quakes

Background

An older, largely buried caldera was formed during the late Pleistocene or early Holocene. Two volcanic centers are located on the NW flank. Lava Peak is of Pleistocene age, and a cinder cone lower on the flank produced a lava flow in 1852 that extended the shoreline of the island and forms Lava Point. The 60-365 m deep younger caldera was formed during a major explosive eruption about 1600 years ago and contains at least three lakes. The currently active large cinder cone in the NE part of the caldera has been the source of frequent explosive eruptions with occasional lava effusion that blankets the caldera floor. A lava flow in 1978 traveled through a narrow breach in the north caldera rim almost to the coast. Fumaroles occur at the base of the caldera cinder cone, and hot springs are located NE of the caldera at the head of Hot Springs Bay valley and along the shores of Hot Springs Bay.
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Smithsonian / GVP volcano information

Significant volcanic eruptions: Akutan volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Akutan has had at least 40 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 35 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 7 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Akutan volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Akutan volcano since around 1900. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Akutan can be found on the news page of Akutan volcano.

Date	Note	VEI
1992 Dec 18	Historical obs./docs.	1
1992 Mar 8 - May 21	Historical obs./docs.	2
1991 Sep 15 - Oct 29 ±1 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1990 Sep 6 - Oct 1	Historical obs./docs.	2
1990 Jan 26 ±5 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1989 Feb 27 - Mar 28 or before	Historical obs./docs.	2
1988 Mar 26 - Jul 20	Historical obs./docs.	2
1987 Jan 31 - Jun 24	Historical obs./docs.	2
1986 Mar 18 - Jun 30	Historical obs./docs.	2
1982 Oct 5 ±4 d. - 1983 May 16 ±15 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1980 Jul 3 or before - Jul 8 ?	Historical obs./docs.	2
1978 Sep 25 ±5 d. - Oct 16 ±15 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1976 Oct 15 ±45 d. - 1977 May 9 or later	Historical obs./docs.	2
1974 Feb 11 or before	West flank ? Historical obs./docs.	2
1973 Mar 16 ±15 d. - May 16 ±15 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1972 Sep 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	2?
1962 Nov 5 ±4 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1953 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1951 Oct 16 ±15 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1948 Apr 29 - Aug 7 or later	Historical obs./docs.	2
1946 Dec - 1947 Jan	Historical obs./docs.	2
1931 May - Aug	Historical obs./docs.	2
1929 May	Historical obs./docs.	2
1927 - 1928	Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1912	Uncertain Eruption	?
1911	Historical obs./docs.	2
1908 Feb 22	Historical obs./docs.	?
1907	Historical obs./docs.	?

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Akutan Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Akutan volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Akutan occurred in 1992.

+How often does Akutan volcano erupt?

Since 1848, Akutan volcano has had at least 35 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 5.1 years.

+How active is Akutan volcano at present?

Akutan volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 28 eruptions, and been active during 28 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Akutan has been in eruption one in 4.5 years on average. The last eruption was in 1992 and ended 33 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Akutan volcano?

The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Akutan volcano occurred in 340 AD. It ranks as a strombolian to vulcanian eruption with a magnitude 2 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Akutan Volcano Maps

Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).