St. Paul Island
Shield · 203m · United States
About St. Paul Island
St. Paul Island is a shield rising to 203 meters (666 feet) in United States's North America Volcanic Regions. Its last known eruption dates to 1280 BCE, in prehistoric times. The volcano has produced 2 recorded eruptions.
Geography & Climate
St. Paul Island is located in United States, within the Northern Alaska-Bering Sea Volcanic Province of the broader North America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 57.17° N, 170.21° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a subarctic climate zone. At just 203 meters above sea level, St. Paul Island 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 shield, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
St. Paul Island 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 St. Paul Island tend to produce effusive eruptions with lava flows that can be relatively predictable, giving nearby communities in United States more time to prepare. However, they can also produce explosive phases, particularly when magma interacts with groundwater. The dominant rock type is trachybasalt / tephrite basanite, 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.
Eruption History Summary
St. Paul Island has 2 recorded eruptions in the geological database, spanning from 1280 BCE to 1943 CE. These eruptions span roughly 3,223 years of volcanic history. The most recent eruption in 1943 CE places this volcano within the modern era of volcanological observation.
GVP Reference Summary
The largest of the Pribilof Islands, St. Paul contains numerous young cinder cones. It consists of a 110 km2 area of coalescing small basaltic-to-trachybasaltic shield volcanoes capped by cinder cones. The most widely exposed lava flows originated from vents in the Bogoslof Hill area in the center of the island and a row of cinder cones in the Rush Hill area on the west side. Subaerial activity began about 540,000 years ago and produced a basaltic lava platform. Later eruptions produced a series of monogenetic vents and two small shield volcanoes. Bogoslof Hill and Hutchinson Hill, forming isolated Northeast Point connected by a low narrow isthmus to the rest of the island, were formed during the Pleistocene. The youngest vent is the Fox Hill cinder cone on the western side of the island that produced a lava flow about 3,200 years ago that traveled into the sea at Southwest Point.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
2 Recorded Eruptions
| Year | VEI | Type | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | — | Uncertain Eruption | Several km SW of St. Paul |
| 1280 BCE | — | Confirmed Eruption | West side (Fox Hill) |
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About St. Paul Island
Is St. Paul Island an active volcano?+
St. Paul Island is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "Eruption Dated." The last known eruption was in 1280 BCE. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
When did St. Paul Island last erupt?+
The most recent recorded eruption of St. Paul Island occurred in 1943 CE. The eruption was classified as a "Uncertain Eruption." St. Paul Island has 2 recorded eruptions in total.
How high is St. Paul Island?+
St. Paul Island has a summit elevation of 203 meters (666 feet) above sea level. At 203 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is St. Paul Island?+
St. Paul Island is classified as a Shield. Shield volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is St. Paul Island located?+
St. Paul 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 57.167° latitude, -170.213° longitude.
Is it safe to visit St. Paul Island?+
St. Paul 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.
