Harrat Rahat

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Harrat Rahat volcano

volcanic field 1744 m / 5,722 ft
western Saudi Arabia, 23.08°N / 49.78°E
Current status: dormant (1 out of 5)

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Typical eruption style: effusive
Harrat Rahat volcano eruptions: 1292 (?), 1256, 641 AD
Last earthquakes nearby: No recent earthquakes

Time

Mag. / Depth

Distance

Location

Harrat Rahat is Saudi Arabia's largest lava field and comprises an area of 20,000 sq km, extending for 300 km at an average width of 60 km south of the holy city of Al Madinah (Medina).
Historic eruptions have occurred near Medina, notably one in 1256 AD.

Background:

The field which is progressively younger towards the north contains mostly basaltic scoria cones and lava flows reaching up to 100 km from the rift axis. However, the volcanic field also erupted some more silicic trachy-basaltic to trachytic magmas, which formed small lava domes with associated pyroclastic-flow and -surge deposits.

1256 AD eruption
The best-known eruption of Harrat Rahat was in 1256 AD and produced about 500 million m3 of lava flows from 6 vents aligned on the eruptive fissure. The lava flows traveled 23 km and came to within 4 km of Medina.

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