About Karaca Dag
Karaca Dag is a shield rising to 1,957 meters (6,421 feet) in Turkiye'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
Karaca Dag is located in Turkiye, within the Northern Arabia Volcanic Province of the broader Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions. Situated at 37.67° N, 39.83° E in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a temperate climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,957 meters above sea level, Karaca Dag 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
Karaca Dag 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 Karaca Dag 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 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
Karaca Dag (also known as Karacalidag) is a broad basaltic shield volcano in SE Turkey about 100 km N of the Syrian border. The volcano lies on the Arabian foreland about 150 km SW of the boundary with the Anatolian Plate and has been active since the Pliocene along a N-S-trending set of fissures and craters associated with the nearby Akcakale graben. Potassium-Argon dates of mid-Pleistocene age have been obtained from lava flows, but Landsat imagery suggests that some lava flows, particularly those on the E flank, may perhaps be only a few thousand years old (Pearce et al., 1990).
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Karaca Dag.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Karaca Dag
Is Karaca Dag an active volcano?+
Karaca Dag 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 Karaca Dag?+
Karaca Dag has a summit elevation of 1,957 meters (6,421 feet) above sea level. At 1,957 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Karaca Dag?+
Karaca Dag is classified as a Shield. Shield volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Karaca Dag located?+
Karaca Dag is located in Turkiye, in the Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Northern Arabia Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 37.670° latitude, 39.830° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Karaca Dag?+
Karaca Dag 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.
