Nunivak Island
Shield · 511m · United States
About Nunivak Island
Nunivak Island is a shield rising to 511 meters (1,677 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
Nunivak Island is located in United States, within the Northern Alaska-Bering Sea Volcanic Province of the broader North America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 60.02° N, 166.33° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a subarctic climate zone. With a summit elevation of 511 meters above sea level, Nunivak Island 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.
GVP Reference Summary
Nunivak Island contains about 60 cinder cones and four maars; the surface of the island is dominated by thin pahoehoe lava flows that form a carapace over Cretaceous sedimentary rocks. The 110-km-wide permafrost-covered island lies about 30 km off the coast of SW Alaska. Widespread lava flows originate from small shield volcanoes and cover much of the island, which has numerous cinder cones and other vents. Two of the maars have about 200 m of relief, with floors near sea level. Eruptions occurred during five broad periods of activity that began 6.1 million years ago and continued until about 150 ka. The bulk of the volcanic field, over 427 km3, was formed during two Pleistocene eruptive periods that ended about 300,000 years ago. The most recent eruptions produced a series of alkalic basalt lava flows and tephra deposits from cinder cones and maars along an E-W zone in the southern part of the island.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Nunivak Island.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Nunivak Island
Is Nunivak Island an active volcano?+
Nunivak Island 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 Nunivak Island?+
Nunivak Island has a summit elevation of 511 meters (1,677 feet) above sea level. At 511 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Nunivak Island?+
Nunivak Island is classified as a Shield. Shield volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Nunivak Island located?+
Nunivak Island 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 60.020° latitude, -166.330° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Nunivak Island?+
Nunivak Island 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.
