Medvezhia Caldera

Kurile Islands

SUMMARY:

Type: caldera
Activity: active
Last Eruption: 1958 AD
Rock Type: ?
Eruptive Volume: ? cu km
Location Map from Xerox PARC
Latitude: 45.38 N
Longitude: 148.80 E

GEOLOGIC HISTORY

Medvezhia is an eroded 8-km-wide caldera at the NE tip of Iturup Island containing several cones and domes and a small caldera lake. Three large volcanic cones lie on an E-W line. The easternmost, Medvezhii cone, lies outside the caldera; the central cone, Sredni, has produced lava flows that reached the coast. The western most, Kudriavy, has been historically active. Menshoi Brat, a lava dome on the west side of Kudriavy, has produced a series of young lava flows.

Historic Activity: Four recorded eruptions (Kudriavy vent) from 1778 to 1958. Known summit crater eruptions 1778 and 1883, a possible phreatic eruption in 1946, and a mild explosive eruption in 1958.

Recent Activity:

  • Intense fumarolic activity in late 1992.
  • Small phreatic explosion forms new crater on summit in Oct. 1999.

Data Sources

  • Smithsonian's SEAN Bulletin (V. 6, No. 12 to V. 14, No. 3)
  • Global Volcanism Network (V. 17, No. 12 and V. 24, No. 10).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Last Update: 2/21/00