Espenberg
Volcanic field · 243m · United States
About Espenberg
Espenberg is a volcanic field rising to 243 meters (797 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
Espenberg is located in United States, within the Northern Alaska-Bering Sea Volcanic Province of the broader North America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 66.35° N, 164.33° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a subarctic climate zone. At just 243 meters above sea level, Espenberg is a relatively low-elevation volcanic feature. Despite its modest height, it remains an active geological formation with the same underlying magmatic processes as its taller counterparts. The volcanic landform is characterized as a cluster, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
GVP Reference Summary
One of the northernmost areas of Quaternary volcanism in North America, the Espenberg volcanic field, is located at the northern tip of the Seward Peninsula just south of the Arctic Circle. The five maars, the largest known on Earth, were erupted through thick permafrost during the late Pleistocene. They were at one time considered to have been active into the Holocene (from about 120,000 to about 7000 years ago), but later radiocarbon dating indicated that the youngest maar, Devil Mountain, erupted about 17,500 years ago (Begét et al., 1996). The compound Devil Mountain maar, consisting of two intersecting craters, is 8 x 6 km wide, and North and South Killeak maars are 4 and 5 km wide, respectively. Whitefish maar is 4.3 km wide. The maars were excavated 100-300 m below the ground surface, with lake surfaces 60-80 m below the surrounding topography. The late-Pleistocene basaltic field also contains five older small shield-like volcanoes.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Espenberg.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Espenberg
Is Espenberg an active volcano?+
Espenberg is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "unknown." No recorded eruptions have been documented. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
How high is Espenberg?+
Espenberg has a summit elevation of 243 meters (797 feet) above sea level. At 243 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Espenberg?+
Espenberg 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 Espenberg located?+
Espenberg is located in United States, in the North America Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Northern Alaska-Bering Sea Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 66.350° latitude, -164.330° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Espenberg?+
Espenberg 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.
