Skip to main content
Back to map
CompareShow on map

Saudi Arabia · Volcanic field

Harrat Rahat

Rahat, Harrat

Type
Volcanic field
Elevation
1744m
Last eruption
1256
Harrat Rahat
Photo: NASA Space Shuttle image (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Volcanic field
Country
Saudi Arabia
Region
Arabia & Central Asia / Western Arabia Volcanic Province
Elevation
1744m
Coordinates
23.080, 39.780
Last eruption
1256
Tectonic setting
Intraplate / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Cluster
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-basalt

Geological summary

Harrat Rahat, Saudi Arabia's largest lava field, covers 20,000 km2 and extends for 300 km S of Madinah (Medina).

Excerpt from the Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution · Read the full summary on GVP →

From Wikipedia

Ḥarrat Rahāṭ is a volcanic lava field in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. In 1256 CE, a 0.5 km3 (0.12 cu mi) lava flow erupted from six aligned scoria cones, and traveled 23 km to within 4 km of the Islamic holy city of Medina; this was its last eruption. There were earlier eruptions, such as in 641 CE, which made finger-like flows to the east of the 1256 CE flow. It is the biggest lava field in Saudi Arabia..

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

3 recordedGlossary

Record summary

Confirmed eruptions
2
Uncertain eruptions
1
Span of confirmed record
641 – 1256
Largest confirmed eruption
VEI 3 (1256)
Confirmed eruptions since 1900
0
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
641~706 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21227~1292 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 364177196710971227

Detailed timeline

  1. 1292VEI ?Method not stated
    1292 – end unknown
    Near Madinah
  2. 1256VEI 3Observed
    1256-06-05 – 1256-07-27
    Fissure 20 km SE of Madinah
  3. 641VEI 2Observed
    641 – end unknown
    West of Madinah

Nearby volcanoes

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.