Makushin Volcano

Updated: Nov 10, 2025 22:18 GMT - refresh

Stratovolcano

Aleutian Islands, 53.89°N / -166.92°W

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Summit height: 1800 m / 5,905 ft

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

Last update: 12 Oct 2023 (Volcanic Ash Advisory)

Makushin volcano is an ice-covered 1800-m-high stratovolcano on northern Unalaska Island west of the town of Dutch Harbor. The volcano contains a 2.5-km-wide caldera. Its broad, domical shape contrasts with the usual steep-sided profile of most other volcanoes in the Aleutians.

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Makushin webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: unspecified
Makushin volcano eruptions: 1995

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
Nov 8, 02:17 am (GMT -9)	0.3 8.1 km	24 km (15 mi) to the E	5 km NNW of Dutch Harbor, Alaska	Info
Friday, November 7, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Nov 7, 09:18 am (Universal Time)	0.3 3.7 km	1.9 km (1.2 mi) to the E	23 km W of Dutch Harbor, Alaska	Info
Monday, November 3, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Nov 3, 04:25 pm (Universal Time)	0.3 23 km	3.2 km (2 mi) to the SW	27 km W of Dutch Harbor, Alaska	Info
Nov 3, 07:20 am (GMT -9)	0.1 24 km	2.9 km (1.8 mi) to the S	Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands	Info
Sunday, November 2, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Nov 2, 02:50 pm (Universal Time)	0.1 9.4 km	25 km (15 mi) to the E	5 km N of Dutch Harbor, Alaska	Info

View recent quakes

Background

Much of the volcano was formed during the Pleistocene, but the caldera (which formed about 8000 years ago), Sugarloaf cone on the ENE flank, and a cluster of about a dozen explosion pits and cinder cones at Point Kadin on the WNW flank, are of Holocene age. A broad band of NE-SW-trending satellitic vents cuts across the volcano. The composite Pakushin cone, with multiple summit craters, lies 8 km to the SW of Makushin. Frequent explosive eruptions have occurred during the past 4000 years, sometimes accompanied by pyroclastic flows and surges. Geothermal areas are found in the summit caldera of Makushin and on the SE and eastern flanks of the volcano. They represent the largest and most investigated high-temperature geothermal resources in Alaska. Small-to-moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded at Makushin since 1786.
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Smithsonian / GVP volcano information

Significant volcanic eruptions: Makushin volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Makushin has had at least 19 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 13 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 9 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Makushin volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Makushin volcano since around 1700. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Makushin can be found on the news page of Makushin volcano.

Date	Note	VEI
1995 Jan 30	Historical obs./docs.	1
1993 Aug 16 ±15 d. - 1994 Jan 19 ?	Historical obs./docs.	1
1987 Mar 2	Historical obs./docs.	1
1986 Apr 28	Discredited Eruption
1980 May 1 ±75 d.	SE side of summit Historical obs./docs.	1
?? 1952 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Uncertain Eruption	?
1951 Dec 20	Historical obs./docs.	1
1938 Oct	Historical obs./docs.	2
1926 Dec 30	Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1912	Uncertain Eruption	?
1907	Historical obs./docs.	?
1883	Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1867	Uncertain Eruption	?
1865	Historical obs./docs.	?
?? 1844 ±1 y.	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 1827 - 1838	Uncertain Eruption	2?
1826 Jun	Historical obs./docs.	3
?? 1818	Uncertain Eruption	?
1802	Historical obs./docs.	3
?? 1792 Feb 14	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 1790 Jun 7	Uncertain Eruption	?
1768 - 1769	Historical obs./docs.	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

Makushin Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Makushin volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Makushin occurred in 1995.

+How often does Makushin volcano erupt?

Since 1768, Makushin volcano has had at least 13 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 19.8 years.

+How active is Makushin volcano at present?

Makushin volcano is infrequently active: Since 1900, it has had 9 eruptions, and been active during 9 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Makushin has been in eruption one in 14 years on average. The last eruption was in 1995 and ended 31 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Makushin volcano?

The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Makushin volcano occurred around 6100 BC. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Makushin 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).