St. Michael
Volcanic field · 715m · United States
About St. Michael
St. Michael is a volcanic field rising to 715 meters (2,346 feet) in United States's North America Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
St. Michael is located in United States, within the Northern Alaska-Bering Sea Volcanic Province of the broader North America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 63.45° N, 162.12° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a subarctic climate zone. With a summit elevation of 715 meters above sea level, St. Michael is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. The volcanic landform is characterized as a cluster, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
St. Michael 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 St. Michael tend to produce effusive eruptions with lava flows that can be relatively predictable, giving nearby communities in United States more time to prepare. However, they can also produce explosive phases, particularly when magma interacts with groundwater. 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.
GVP Reference Summary
The St. Michael volcanic field, at the south end of Norton Sound, includes more than 55 cones and craters on St. Michael and Stuart islands. Broad low shield volcanoes underlie the younger cones, and maars are located at the SW part of the field, which covers over 3,000 km2 and extends inland along the Golsovia and Kogok rivers. The youngest activity is of Holocene age, and native tradition says that a village was submerged by lava three times (Dall, 1870).
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for St. Michael.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About St. Michael
Is St. Michael an active volcano?+
St. Michael 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. Michael?+
St. Michael has a summit elevation of 715 meters (2,346 feet) above sea level. At 715 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is St. Michael?+
St. Michael is classified as a Volcanic field. Volcanic fields consist of clusters of small volcanic vents and cinder cones spread across a region. Rather than a single central vent, eruptions can occur at many points across the field.
Where is St. Michael located?+
St. Michael is located in United States, in the North America Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Northern Alaska-Bering Sea Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 63.450° latitude, -162.120° longitude.
Is it safe to visit St. Michael?+
St. Michael 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.
