About Buldir
Buldir is a stratovolcano rising to 656 meters (2,152 feet) in United States's North America Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Buldir is located in United States, within the Aleutian Ridge Volcanic Arc of the broader North America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 52.35° N, 175.91° E in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a temperate climate zone. With a summit elevation of 656 meters above sea level, Buldir is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. 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
Buldir sits in a subduction zone, where one tectonic plate dives beneath another, creating intense heat and pressure that generates magma. Subduction zones are responsible for many of the world's most explosive volcanoes and deadliest eruptions. For communities in United States near Buldir, this tectonic setting means the volcano is capable of producing powerful explosive eruptions, pyroclastic flows, and lahars that can threaten populated areas within tens of kilometers of the summit. 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
The westernmost volcanic center of the 2500-km-long Aleutian arc, the island includes the older Buldir volcano in the center and the younger East Cape volcano to the NE. The high point of the island is a tuff cone that tops the older center. A plug dome forms the summit of East Cape volcano, which has two principal peaks. The youngest volcanic feature on the isolated, 4.2 x 7.2 km island is a lava dome on the SE flank of East Cape volcano. The dome was considered by Coats (1951) to be of Pleistocene age based on morphologic considerations. Smith and Shaw (1975) suggested that the volcano may have been active within the last two thousand years, however, Holocene activity is uncertain, and the volcano may have ceased activity during the Pleistocene (Motyka et al. 1993, Nye et al. 1998). The flora is less varied than on neighboring islands, suggesting that Buldir is relatively young.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Buldir.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Buldir
Is Buldir an active volcano?+
Buldir is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "Evidence Uncertain." No recorded eruptions have been documented. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
How high is Buldir?+
Buldir has a summit elevation of 656 meters (2,152 feet) above sea level. At 656 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Buldir?+
Buldir 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 Buldir located?+
Buldir is located in United States, in the North America Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Aleutian Ridge Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are 52.350° latitude, 175.911° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Buldir?+
Buldir can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. United States may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
