About Kula
Kula is a volcanic field rising to 750 meters (2,461 feet) in Turkiye's European Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Kula is located in Turkiye, within the Western Anatolian Volcanic Province of the broader European Volcanic Regions. Situated at 38.58° N, 28.52° E in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a temperate climate zone. With a summit elevation of 750 meters above sea level, Kula 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
Kula 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 Kula tend to produce effusive eruptions with lava flows that can be relatively predictable, giving nearby communities in Turkiye 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 Kula volcanic field, the westernmost area of young volcanism in Turkey, lies about 450 km WNW of its closest Holocene neighbor in central Turkey, the Karapinar volcanic field. The Kula field consists of a broad area of Quaternary alkaline basanitic-to-phonotephritic cinder cones and maars erupted along a roughly E-W line SW of the city of Selendi. Most are Pleistocene in age, between about 1.1 million and 10,000 years old. The initial stage produced lava flows from vents along the ring fracture of caldera identified from satellite images. The second and third stages took place along an E-W graben and produced lava flows with ultramafic xenoliths. Although activity was considered to have continued until the beginning of the Holocene (Yilmaz, 1990), or almost to historical times (Borsi et al., 1972), the age of the most recent eruption is not known.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Kula.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Kula
Is Kula an active volcano?+
Kula 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 Kula?+
Kula has a summit elevation of 750 meters (2,461 feet) above sea level. At 750 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Kula?+
Kula 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 Kula located?+
Kula is located in Turkiye, in the European Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Western Anatolian Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 38.580° latitude, 28.520° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Kula?+
Kula can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Turkiye may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
