About St. Catherine
St. Catherine is a stratovolcano rising to 840 meters (2,756 feet) in Grenada's Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
St. Catherine is located in Grenada, within the Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc of the broader Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. Situated at 12.15° N, 61.67° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 840 meters above sea level, St. Catherine is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. The volcanic landform is characterized as a composite, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
St. Catherine 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 Grenada near St. Catherine, 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 andesite / basaltic andesite, 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.
GVP Reference Summary
The island of Grenada is composed of five Pliocene-to-Pleistocene volcanic centers, the youngest and highest of which is Mount St. Catherine on the northern end of the island. A complex of lava domes is located within a crater breached to the east at the summit. Pyroclastic-flow deposits extend NW from the extensively weathered volcano. The most recent activity on Grenada originated from a group of young maars, tuff rings, and scoria cones that extend SSW-NNE across the length of the 30-km-long island. Kick 'em Jenny, the historically active submarine volcano 8 km N of Grenada, is listed separately in this compilation along with adjacent submarine and subaerial cones that may represent a single volcanic complex. The most recent eruption, along a NE-SW-trending fault cutting across the island, produced a scoria cone near Radix village that could be less than 1,000 years old. Hot springs and fumaroles are present at several locations.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for St. Catherine.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About St. Catherine
Is St. Catherine an active volcano?+
St. Catherine is classified as active based on credible evidence of past eruptions. Although its last known eruption was in prehistoric times, volcanologists consider it capable of erupting again.
How high is St. Catherine?+
St. Catherine has a summit elevation of 840 meters (2,756 feet) above sea level. At 840 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is St. Catherine?+
St. Catherine is classified as a Stratovolcano. Stratovolcanoes (also called composite volcanoes) are steep, conical volcanoes built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. They are among the most common and dangerous types, known for explosive eruptions.
Where is St. Catherine located?+
St. Catherine is located in Grenada, in the Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are 12.150° latitude, -61.670° longitude.
Is it safe to visit St. Catherine?+
St. Catherine can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Grenada may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
