About Bridge River Cones
Bridge River Cones is a volcanic field rising to 2,500 meters (8,203 feet) in Canada'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
Bridge River Cones is located in Canada, within the Garibaldi Volcanic Arc of the broader North America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 50.80° N, 123.40° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a temperate climate zone. At 2,500 meters above sea level, Bridge River Cones rises above the surrounding terrain into montane or subalpine conditions. The elevation creates distinct ecological zones along its flanks, from forested lower slopes to exposed rocky terrain near the summit. The volcanic landform is characterized as a cluster, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Bridge River Cones 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 Canada near Bridge River Cones, 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 Bridge River Cones volcanic field consists of a group of small basaltic and trachybasaltic eruptive centers at the extreme northern end of the Garibaldi volcanic belt in SW British Columbia. Pleistocene volcanic necks and cones were Potassium-Argon dated at 0.97 and 0.59 million years ago in the Salal Creek area and display ice-contact features (Lawrence et al., 1984). Tuber Hill is a small subaerial 600,000-year-old basaltic stratovolcano to the N that was constructed on the Bridge River upland when neighboring valleys were filled with ice. Lava flows that overlie poorly consolidated glacial till and appear to post-date the latest glaciation are found immediately N of Bridge River. The youngest flow may be less than 1500 years old (Souther; in Wood and Kienle, 1990).
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Bridge River Cones.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Bridge River Cones
Is Bridge River Cones an active volcano?+
Bridge River Cones 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 Bridge River Cones?+
Bridge River Cones has a summit elevation of 2,500 meters (8,203 feet) above sea level. At 2,500 meters, it is comparable in height to many significant mountain peaks and stands well above the tree line.
What type of volcano is Bridge River Cones?+
Bridge River Cones 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 Bridge River Cones located?+
Bridge River Cones is located in Canada, in the North America Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Garibaldi Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are 50.800° latitude, -123.400° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Bridge River Cones?+
Bridge River Cones can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Canada may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
