About Aragats
Aragats is a stratovolcano rising to 4,095 meters (13,436 feet) in Armenia'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
Aragats is located in Armenia, within the Caucasus Volcanic Province of the broader Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions. Situated at 40.53° N, 44.20° E in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a temperate climate zone. Standing at 4,095 meters above sea level, Aragats towers above the alpine zone, where vegetation gives way to bare rock, snow, and ice for much of the year. The high elevation means the upper slopes experience significantly colder temperatures than surrounding lowlands. The volcanic landform is characterized as a composite, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Aragats 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 Aragats tend to produce effusive eruptions with lava flows that can be relatively predictable, giving nearby communities in Armenia more time to prepare. However, they can also produce explosive phases, particularly when magma interacts with groundwater. The dominant rock type is andesite / basaltic andesite, 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
Aragats is a large andesitic-to-dacitic stratovolcano in NW Armenia about 40 km NW of the capital city of Yerevan. The main edifice is dissected by glaciers and is of Pliocene-to-Pleistocene age. Satellitic cones and fissures are located on all sides of the volcano and were the source of large lava flows that descended its lower flanks. Several of these were considered to be of Holocene age, but later Potassium-Argon dating indicated mid- to late-Pleistocene ages. The youngest lower-flank flows have not been precisely dated, but are constrained as occurring between the end of the late-Pleistocene and 3000 BCE (Kharakanian et al., 2003). A 13-km-long, WSW-ENE-trending line of craters and pyroclastic cones cuts across the northern crater rim and is the source of young lava flows and lahars; the latter were considered to be characteristic of Holocene summit eruptions.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Aragats.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Aragats
Is Aragats an active volcano?+
Aragats 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 Aragats?+
Aragats has a summit elevation of 4,095 meters (13,436 feet) above sea level. At 4,095 meters, it stands taller than Mount Rainier (4,392m) and is among the world's major volcanic peaks.
What type of volcano is Aragats?+
Aragats is classified as a Stratovolcano. Stratovolcanoes (also called composite volcanoes) are steep, conical volcanoes built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. They are among the most common and dangerous types, known for explosive eruptions.
Where is Aragats located?+
Aragats is located in Armenia, in the Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Caucasus Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 40.530° latitude, 44.200° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Aragats?+
Aragats can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Armenia may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
