About Kishb, Harrat
Kishb, Harrat is a volcanic field rising to 1,475 meters (4,839 feet) in Saudi Arabia's Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Kishb, Harrat is located in Saudi Arabia, within the Western Arabia Volcanic Province of the broader Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions. Situated at 22.80° N, 41.38° E in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,475 meters above sea level, Kishb, 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
Kishb, 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 Kishb, 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 trachybasalt / tephrite basanite, 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 5,900 km3 Harrat Kishb volcanic field, located E of a N-S-trending line of volcanic fields in central Saudi Arabia, is comprised of basaltic scoria cones, tuff rings and maars, and phonolitic lava domes and flows. Most of it is of Pleistocene age; Holocene flows are restricted to three areas in the western half of the field. Jabal Aslaj cone and its associated lava flows contain abundant granitic blocks from basement rocks and ultramafic nodules. Jabal Hil is a large scoria cone with a 300-m-wide crater that was filled and overtopped by a lava lake. Among the several tuff rings and maars is the 800 x 600 m wide Al Wabah maar in the west-central portion of the field. The most recent products, including the scoria cones and lava flows of Jabal Aslaj and Jabal Hil and the Jabal Shalman lava-dome, lava-flow, and scoria-cone complex, are stratigraphically younger than a pluvial period dated about 6500-4000 years before present.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Kishb, Harrat.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Kishb, Harrat
Is Kishb, Harrat an active volcano?+
Kishb, Harrat 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 Kishb, Harrat?+
Kishb, Harrat has a summit elevation of 1,475 meters (4,839 feet) above sea level. At 1,475 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Kishb, Harrat?+
Kishb, 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 Kishb, Harrat located?+
Kishb, 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 22.800° latitude, 41.380° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Kishb, Harrat?+
Kishb, 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.
