About Andrus
Andrus is a shield(s) rising to 2,978 meters (9,771 feet) in Antarctica's Antarctic-Scotia Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Andrus is located in Antarctica, within the Western Antarctica Volcanic Province of the broader Antarctic-Scotia Volcanic Regions. Situated at 75.80° S, 132.33° W in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a polar climate zone. At 2,978 meters above sea level, Andrus rises above the surrounding terrain into montane or subalpine conditions. The elevation creates distinct ecological zones along its flanks, from forested lower slopes to exposed rocky terrain near the summit. The volcanic landform is characterized as a shield, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Andrus is an intraplate volcano, meaning it formed away from any plate boundary. These volcanoes are often powered by hotspots — plumes of abnormally hot mantle material rising from deep within the Earth. Hotspot volcanoes like Andrus tend to produce effusive eruptions with lava flows that can be relatively predictable, giving nearby communities in Antarctica more time to prepare. However, they can also produce explosive phases, particularly when magma interacts with groundwater. The dominant rock type is trachyte / trachydacite, an intermediate to silica-rich volcanic rock. This composition typically produces more viscous magma, leading to more explosive eruptions with ash columns and pyroclastic flows. Andesitic and dacitic magmas build pressure before erupting, which is why volcanoes with this rock chemistry are often associated with Plinian-style eruptions that can send ash tens of kilometers into the atmosphere and disrupt aviation across entire regions.
GVP Reference Summary
Three coalescing trachytic shield volcanoes with a combined volume of 252 km3 formed during the Miocene along a N-S line in the Ames Range of western Marie Byrd Land. The youngest and best exposed is Mount Andrus, the southernmost volcano, where late-stage volcanic activity resumed during the late-Pleistocene or Holocene (Gonzalez-Ferran and Gonzalez-Bonorino 1972, LeMasurier and Thomson 1990). A distinct 4.5-km-wide caldera truncates the summit of Mount Andrus. Weak fumarolic activity was observed in 1977 at Mount Kauffman, the northernmost volcano, which also has a morphologically distinct 3-km-wide summit caldera.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Andrus.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Andrus
Is Andrus an active volcano?+
Andrus is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "Evidence Uncertain." No recorded eruptions have been documented. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
How high is Andrus?+
Andrus has a summit elevation of 2,978 meters (9,771 feet) above sea level. At 2,978 meters, it is comparable in height to many significant mountain peaks and stands well above the tree line.
What type of volcano is Andrus?+
Andrus is classified as a Shield(s). Shield volcanoes are broad, gently sloping volcanoes built by fluid lava flows. They produce less explosive eruptions compared to stratovolcanoes and tend to have effusive lava rather than violent blasts.
Where is Andrus located?+
Andrus is located in Antarctica, in the Antarctic-Scotia Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Western Antarctica Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are -75.800° latitude, -132.330° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Andrus?+
Andrus can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Antarctica may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.