About Lunayyir, Harrat
Lunayyir, Harrat is a volcanic field rising to 1,370 meters (4,495 feet) in Saudi Arabia's Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions. Its last known eruption was in 1000 CE. The volcano has produced 1 recorded eruption.
Geography & Climate
Lunayyir, Harrat is located in Saudi Arabia, within the Western Arabia Volcanic Province of the broader Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions. Situated at 25.17° N, 37.75° E in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a subtropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,370 meters above sea level, Lunayyir, Harrat 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
Lunayyir, Harrat 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 Lunayyir, Harrat tend to produce effusive eruptions with lava flows that can be relatively predictable, giving nearby communities in Saudi Arabia 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.
Eruption History Summary
Lunayyir, Harrat has 1 recorded eruption in the geological database, spanning from 1000 CE to 1000 CE.
GVP Reference Summary
Harrat Lunayyir is a basaltic volcanic field in NW Saudi Arabia, east of the Red Sea port of Umm Lajj. It contains about 50 volcanic cones that were constructed over Precambrian crystalline rocks along a N-S axis. Harrat Lunayyir is one of the smallest of the Holocene lava fields of Saudi Arabia, but individual flow lobes radiate long distances from the center of the Harrat, and flows reached the Red Sea in two places. Lava flows are basaltic to basanitic in composition, and the Holocene flows are alkali olivine basalts. One of the cones may have erupted around the 10th century CE or earlier. A seismic swarm in May 2009 was interpreted to be consistent with intrusion of an 8-km-long dike to shallow crustal levels.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
1 Recorded Eruption
| Year | VEI | Type | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | — | Confirmed Eruption | — |
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Lunayyir, Harrat
Is Lunayyir, Harrat an active volcano?+
Lunayyir, Harrat is classified as active based on credible evidence of past eruptions. Although its last known eruption was in 1000 CE, volcanologists consider it capable of erupting again.
When did Lunayyir, Harrat last erupt?+
The most recent recorded eruption of Lunayyir, Harrat occurred in 1000 CE. The eruption was classified as a "Confirmed Eruption." Lunayyir, Harrat has 1 recorded eruption in total.
How high is Lunayyir, Harrat?+
Lunayyir, Harrat has a summit elevation of 1,370 meters (4,495 feet) above sea level. At 1,370 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Lunayyir, Harrat?+
Lunayyir, Harrat 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 Lunayyir, Harrat located?+
Lunayyir, Harrat is located in Saudi Arabia, in the Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Western Arabia Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 25.170° latitude, 37.750° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Lunayyir, Harrat?+
Lunayyir, Harrat can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Saudi Arabia may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
