Adatara Volcano

Updated: May 2, 2025 01:46 GMT - refresh

stratovolcanoes

Fukushima province, Japan, 37.64°N / 140.29°E

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Summit height: 1718 m / 5,636 ft

Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)

Last update: 26 Feb 2022

Adatara volcano is a group of overlapping stratovolcanoes east of Bandai volcano and located 15 km SW of Fukushima City. Its highest summit is Minowa-yama stratovolcano, north of Tetsu-zan, which is the currently active stratovolcano. The group forms a N-S directed elongated chain.
The volcano is known for its hot springs and fumaroles. Io-gawa river ("Sulfur River") exits the complex to the west.
72 workers of a sulfur mine in the summit crater were killed during an eruption in 1900. Historical eruptions were all from within the 1.2-km-wide, 350-m-deep Numonotaira crater of Tetsu-zan.

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News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: explosive
Adatara volcano eruptions: 1996, 1900, 1899, 1813 (?)

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
May 2, 06:31 am (GMT +9)	0.6 6.8 km	26 km (16 mi) to the W	23 km north of Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima, Japan	Info
May 1, 10:10 pm (GMT +9)	0.4 7.1 km	24 km (15 mi) to the W	22 km north of Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima, Japan	Info
May 1, 06:37 pm (GMT +9)	0.7 8.8 km	11 km (7.1 mi) to the W	30 km southwest of Fukushima, Fukushima, Japan	Info
Saturday, April 26, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Apr 26, 03:53 pm (GMT +9)	0.7 9.4 km	24 km (15 mi) to the NW	36 km west of Fukushima, Fukushima, Japan	Info
Thursday, April 24, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Apr 25, 04:11 am (GMT +9)	1.5 10.9 km	25 km (15 mi) to the SW	10 km northeast of Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima, Japan	Info
Monday, April 21, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Apr 21, 06:44 pm (GMT +9)	0.2 4.8 km	26 km (16 mi) to the W	41 km west of Fukushima, Fukushima, Japan	Info
Sunday, April 20, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Apr 21, 08:47 am (GMT +9)	0.4 6.9 km	27 km (17 mi) to the W	Japan: Western Fukushima Pref	Info

View recent quakes

Background

The broad forested massif of Adatara volcano is mainly andesitic and consists of stratovolcanoes and lava domes built upon Tertiary sedimentary rocks on the south and rest on the flank of Azuma volcano on the north.
Adatara was constructed in 3 main stages that began about 550,000, 350,000, and 200,000 years ago. In the first stage, lava flows and pyroclastic flows formed the Maegatake cone. The second stage built the Osyozan cone. The 3rd stage erupted large amounts of lava flows, pyroclastic flows and andesitic lava domes and built the present-day chain of volcanoes.
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Source:
Yamamoto, T., & Sakaguchi, K. (2000). Eruptive history of Adatara volcano, NE Japan, during last 250,000 years based on tephrostratigraphy. Journal of Geological Society of Japan, 106(12), 865–882. GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN.

Significant volcanic eruptions: Adatara volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Adatara has had at least 12 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 3 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1813 from Adatara volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Adatara volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Adatara can be found on the news page of Adatara volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths
1997 Sep 15 (eruptive episode 1997 Sep 15)	Historical obs./docs.	0	4	Info
1997 Sep 15: Four hikers died from inhalation of volcanic gases after being exposed 10 fumes on the floor of Numano-taira crater on September 15, 1997, a year after the last eruption of Adatara. The hikers were part of a group of 14 who became disoriented in foggy conditions and departed from a trail where warning signs were posted. No eruption. (reference #9675) Volcanic gas (hydrogen sulfide) killed 4 mountain-climbers on Numanodaira. (reference #12936) Cited references #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. #12936 Japan Meteorological Agency and Volcanological Society of Japan (2013): National Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes in Japan (fourth edition, English version). Japan Meteorological Agency. [accessed May 20, 2021] Link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1996 Sep 1	Numanotaira Historical obs./docs.	1
1900 Jul 17	Numanotaira Historical obs./docs.	2
1900 Jul 17	Historical obs./docs.	2	72	Info
72 sulfur miners in crater killed, 10 injured in explosive eruption. (reference #9675) Crater sulfur mine was completely destroyed. 72 dead, 10 injured. Mountain forest and agricultural land damage. (reference #12936) Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. #12936 Japan Meteorological Agency and Volcanological Society of Japan (2013): National Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes in Japan (fourth edition, English version). Japan Meteorological Agency. [accessed May 20, 2021] Link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1899 Aug 24 - Nov 12	Numanotaira Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1813 Jan 10	Uncertain Eruption	1?
950 ±50 y. AD	Numanotaira	?
50 ±900 y. BC	Numanotaira	?
590 ±200 y. BC	Numanotaira	3
1550 ±1100 y. BC	Numanotaira	?
2600 ±50 y. BC	Numanotaira	3
4300 ±850 y. BC	Numanotaira	3
6150 ±100 y. BC	Numanotaira	3
6650 ±100 y. BC	Numanotaira	3
8050 ? BC	Numanotaira	3

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Eruptions of Adatara volcano

1997 fatalities
On 15 September 1997 4 tourists were killed on Adatara volcano by inhaling lethal quantities of H2S gas, which had build up on the floor of Numano-taira crater.
The hikers were part of a group of 14 who visited Adatara volcano. 3 were killed initially and the 4th in his attempt to rescue the others. ...more info

Adatara Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Adatara volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Adatara occurred in 1996.

+How often does Adatara volcano erupt?

Since 1899, Adatara volcano has had at least 3 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 42 years.

+How active is Adatara volcano at present?

Adatara volcano is occasionally active: Since 1900, it has had 2 eruptions, and been active during 2 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Adatara has been in eruption one in 63 years on average. The last eruption was in 1996 and ended 29 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Adatara volcano?

The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Adatara volcano occurred around 590 BC. It ranks as a strombolian to vulcanian eruption with a magnitude 2 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Adatara Volcano Maps

Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).