About Soda Lakes
Soda Lakes is a maar(s) rising to 1,251 meters (4,105 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
Soda Lakes is located in United States, within the Basin and Range Volcanic Province of the broader North America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 39.52° N, 118.88° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a temperate climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,251 meters above sea level, Soda Lakes 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
Soda Lakes is situated along a rift zone, where tectonic plates are pulling apart. As the crust thins and fractures, magma rises to fill the gap, creating volcanic activity. Rift volcanism typically produces more fluid lava flows rather than explosive blasts, which means communities near Soda Lakes in United States generally face slower-moving hazards like lava flows and ground fissures rather than sudden pyroclastic events. However, rift volcanoes can still generate significant ash emissions and gas releases that affect local air quality. 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
Two lake-filled maars, Soda Lake and Little Soda Lake, lie NW of the town of Fallon. The basaltic maars were formed subaerially, post-dating the Pleistocene glacial Lake Lahontan, and were estimated to be less than 10,000 years old and perhaps even less than 1,500 years old (Garside and Schilling, 1979; Price and LaPointe, 1998). Soda Lake is about 1.3 x 2 km elongated NE-SW. The 300-m-wide Little Soda Lake lies south of Soda Lake. The late-Pleistocene Upsal Hogback cones lie to the NNE of Soda Lakes. The maars are the site of a geothermal prospect that may have discharged hot springs through the end of the 19th century.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Soda Lakes.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Soda Lakes
Is Soda Lakes an active volcano?+
Soda Lakes 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 Soda Lakes?+
Soda Lakes has a summit elevation of 1,251 meters (4,105 feet) above sea level. At 1,251 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Soda Lakes?+
Soda Lakes is classified as a Maar(s). Maar(s) volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Soda Lakes located?+
Soda Lakes is located in United States, in the North America Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Basin and Range Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 39.525° latitude, -118.878° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Soda Lakes?+
Soda Lakes 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.
