About Melville
Melville is a stratovolcano rising to 549 meters (1,801 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
Melville is located in Antarctica, within the South Shetlands Volcanic Arc of the broader Antarctic-Scotia Volcanic Regions. Situated at 62.02° S, 57.67° W in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a subarctic climate zone. With a summit elevation of 549 meters above sea level, Melville 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
Melville 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 Melville 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.
GVP Reference Summary
Melville Peak is an eroded stratovolcano on NE King George Island with a summit crater. No radiocarbon dates are available, but an ash layer found 30 km away in a NE Bransfield Strait marine sediment core with compositional similarity to Melville Peak suggests possible Holocene activity within the past few thousand years.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Melville.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Melville
Is Melville an active volcano?+
Melville 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 Melville?+
Melville has a summit elevation of 549 meters (1,801 feet) above sea level. At 549 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Melville?+
Melville 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 Melville located?+
Melville is located in Antarctica, in the Antarctic-Scotia Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the South Shetlands Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are -62.020° latitude, -57.670° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Melville?+
Melville 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.