Mount Haddington Volcanic Field
Shield · 1,544m · Antarctica
About Mount Haddington Volcanic Field
Mount Haddington Volcanic Field is a shield rising to 1,544 meters (5,066 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
Mount Haddington Volcanic Field is located in Antarctica, within the Antarctic Peninsula Volcanic Province of the broader Antarctic-Scotia Volcanic Regions. Situated at 64.15° S, 57.75° W in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a subarctic climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,544 meters above sea level, Mount Haddington Volcanic Field is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. 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
Mount Haddington Volcanic Field 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 Mount Haddington Volcanic Field 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 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 glacier-covered Mount Haddington shield volcano forms the high point of James Ross Island along the Larsen Rift near the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Effusive eruptions fed large lava deltas with basal hyalocalstite breccias overlain by subaerial lava flows. Well-preserved tuff cones and pyroclastic cones on the eastern flank below the summit icecap were considered to be only a few thousand years old (Smellie et al., 2008).
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Mount Haddington Volcanic Field.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Mount Haddington Volcanic Field
Is Mount Haddington Volcanic Field an active volcano?+
Mount Haddington Volcanic Field 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 Mount Haddington Volcanic Field?+
Mount Haddington Volcanic Field has a summit elevation of 1,544 meters (5,066 feet) above sea level. At 1,544 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Mount Haddington Volcanic Field?+
Mount Haddington Volcanic Field is classified as a Shield. Shield volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Mount Haddington Volcanic Field located?+
Mount Haddington Volcanic Field is located in Antarctica, in the Antarctic-Scotia Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Antarctic Peninsula Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are -64.150° latitude, -57.750° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Mount Haddington Volcanic Field?+
Mount Haddington Volcanic Field 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.