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United States · Stratovolcano

Farallon de Pajaros

Type
Stratovolcano
Elevation
337m
Last eruption
1953
Farallon de Pajaros
Photo: Winfrey, US NAVY · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
United States
Region
Northwestern Pacific / Mariana Volcanic Arc
Elevation
337m
Coordinates
20.546, 144.893
Last eruption
1953
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Crustal thickness unknown
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic andesite
Geological summary

The small 2-km-wide island of Farallon de Pajaros (also known as Uracas) is the northernmost and most active volcano of the Mariana Islands. Its relatively frequent eruptions dating back to the mid-19th century have caused the andesitic volcano to be referred to as the "Lighthouse of the western Pacific." The symmetrical, sparsely vegetated summit is the central cone within a small caldera cutting an older edifice, remnants of which are seen on the SE and southern sides near the coast. Flank fissures have fed lava flows that form platforms along the coast. Eruptions have been recorded from both summit and flank vents.

Eruption history

16 recordedGlossary
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
1864~1873 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 21873~1882 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21899~1908 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21908~1917 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21917~1926 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21926~1934 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 21934~1943 · 4 eruptions · max VEI 21943~1952 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 218641882190819261943

Detailed timeline

  1. 1952VEI 2Observed
    1952-10-26 – 1953-04-15
    Summit, east side
  2. 1951VEI 2Observed
    1951-08-16 – end unknown
  3. 1947VEI 0Observed
    1947-01-16 – end unknown
    North side
  4. 1943VEI 2Observed
    1943-07-02 – end unknown
    Summit, south side
  5. 1941VEI 1Observed
    1941-03-28 – end unknown
  6. 1939VEI 1Observed
    1939-07-02 – end unknown
    East side ?
  7. 1936VEI 1Observed
    1936-04-15 – end unknown
  8. 1934VEI ?Observed
    1934-07-02 – end unknown
  9. 1932VEI 2Observed
    1932-09-07 – 1932-10-07
    Summit, east side ?
  10. 1928VEI 2Observed
    1928-12-15 – end unknown
  11. 1925VEI 2Observed
    1925-07-02 – end unknown
  12. 1912VEI 2Observed
    1912-07-02 – end unknown
    North side ?
  13. 1901VEI 2Method not stated
    1901-01-16 – 1902-12-16
    Summit, east side
  14. 1876VEI 2Observed
    1876-01-01 – 1876-01-03
    Summit, NE side
  15. 1872VEI 2Observed
    1872-07-11 – end unknown
  16. 1864VEI 2Observed
    1864-01-07 – end unknown
    SW side

Nearby volcanoes

External links

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