About Blue Lake Crater
Blue Lake Crater is a maar rising to 1,136 meters (3,727 feet) in United States's North America Volcanic Regions. Its last known eruption was in 680 CE. The volcano has produced 1 recorded eruption.
Geography & Climate
Blue Lake Crater is located in United States, within the High Cascades Volcanic Arc of the broader North America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 44.41° N, 121.77° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a temperate climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,136 meters above sea level, Blue Lake Crater is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. The volcanic landform is characterized as a minor (basaltic), which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Blue Lake Crater sits in a subduction zone, where one tectonic plate dives beneath another, creating intense heat and pressure that generates magma. Subduction zones are responsible for many of the world's most explosive volcanoes and deadliest eruptions. For communities in United States near Blue Lake Crater, this tectonic setting means the volcano is capable of producing powerful explosive eruptions, pyroclastic flows, and lahars that can threaten populated areas within tens of kilometers of the summit. The dominant rock type is basalt / picro-basalt, a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that forms from rapidly cooling, low-viscosity lava. Basaltic eruptions tend to be less explosive and produce fluid lava flows that can travel long distances. While less immediately dangerous than explosive eruptions, basaltic lava flows can destroy structures and infrastructure in their path, and volcanic gases released during these eruptions can affect air quality over a wide area.
Eruption History Summary
Blue Lake Crater has 1 recorded eruption in the geological database, spanning from 680 CE to 680 CE.
GVP Reference Summary
Blue Lake Crater is a series of at least three overlapping explosion craters along a NE trend slightly east of the crest of the Cascade Range in the state of Oregon. Explosions through pre-existing bedrock about 1,300 years ago deposited basaltic bombs and cinders, and spread tephra to the E and SE during perhaps the youngest eruption in the Santiam and McKenzie Passes region. The eruption created an elongated, steep-walled crater with a low rim that rises about 50 m above adjacent topography. The crater is now filled by the 300 x 800 m Blue Lake, immediately west of the glacial moraine dammed Suttle Lake. A chain of spatter cones, 6 km to the SSW and about 4 km NE of Mount Washington, is aligned with Blue Lake Crater and has ejecta that are petrographically similar and may have been erupted at the same time.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
1 Recorded Eruption
| Year | VEI | Type | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 680 | — | Confirmed Eruption | — |
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Blue Lake Crater
Is Blue Lake Crater an active volcano?+
Blue Lake Crater is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "Eruption Dated." The last known eruption was in 680 CE. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
When did Blue Lake Crater last erupt?+
The most recent recorded eruption of Blue Lake Crater occurred in 680 CE. The eruption was classified as a "Confirmed Eruption." Blue Lake Crater has 1 recorded eruption in total.
How high is Blue Lake Crater?+
Blue Lake Crater has a summit elevation of 1,136 meters (3,727 feet) above sea level. At 1,136 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Blue Lake Crater?+
Blue Lake Crater is classified as a Maar. Maar volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Blue Lake Crater located?+
Blue Lake Crater is located in United States, in the North America Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the High Cascades Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are 44.413° latitude, -121.769° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Blue Lake Crater?+
Blue Lake Crater can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. United States may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
