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Akan volcano

Updated: May 30, 2023 13:29 GMT -
caldera 1499 m / 4,918 ft
Hokkaido (Japan), 43.38°N / 144.01°E
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 13 Dec 2021 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

Akan volcano (阿寒岳, Akan-dake) is one of Hokkaido's most active volcanoes. Akan consists of a large 24 x 13 km diameter caldera and a group of younger partly Holocene andesite cones. The highest point of the complex is the Mount Meakan (1499 m) stratovolcano.
The frequent historic eruptions occurred all from the Me-Akan group, east of Lake Akan. Me-Akan volcano (雌阿寒岳 Meakan-dake) consists of 9 overlapping cones. Its summit has 3 craters.
Me-Akan has had at least 17 small phreatic eruptions since the beginning of the 19th century and from geologic studies it is known that there were at least 4 major magmatic eruptions with pyroclastic flows have occurred in prehistoric time during the past 10,000 years.

Lake Akan is part of the Akan National Park. It is known for a rare green algae (marimo) which can grow to about the size of a soccer ball. The only town around the lake is the resort of Akankohan known for its hot springs and the "bokke", bubbling mud pools found at the lakeshore.

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Typical eruption style: explosive
Akan volcano eruptions: 2008, 2006, 1988, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1962, 1960, 1959, 1958, 1957, 1956, 1955, 1954, 1951(?)-52, 1927 (?), 1808 (?), 1800

Latest nearby earthquakes

TimeMag. / DepthDistance/Location
Tuesday, May 30, 2023 GMT (1 quake)
May 30, 2023 6:32 pm (GMT +9) (May 30, 2023 09:32 GMT)
2.6

144 km
21 km (13 mi)
40 km northwest of Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan

Background

The Akan caldera is located immediately SW of Kutcharo caldera and has an elonogated, irregular shape due to several caldera-forming explosive eruptions between the early and mid Pleistocene.
Growth of 3 post-caldera stratovolcanoes, 3 at the SW end of the caldera and the other at the NE side, has reduced the size of the caldera lake. The conical O-Akan volcano was frequently active during the Holocene. The 1-km-wide Nakamachineshiri crater of Me-Akan volcano was formed during a major pumice-and-scoria eruption about 13,500 years ago.

Akan Photos



2008 eruption
Tremor was recorded on 17 November 2008. A small ash eruption occurred on 18 November, and was later detected by a fresh deposit of ash on snow in up to 400 m distance from the Ponmachineshiri crater. Another ash eruption occurred on 28 November, producing a small ash plume reaching 2 km altitude.
(Source: Smithsonian / GVP monthly reports)

2006 eruption
A small eruption occurred from a vent on the NE flank of Meakan on 21 March 2006. Ashfall was observed 10 km SE of the volcano.

1998 eruption
A small ash eruption occurred from Meakan volcano on 9 November 1998.

1996 eruption
A small phreatic eruption occurred on 21 November 1996.

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS
Wed, 28 Nov 2018, 06:00

Akan volcano (Hokkaido, Japan) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 28 November-4 December 2018 (New Activity / Unrest)

JMA reported that the number of earthquakes with shallow hypocenters and epicenters near Ponmachineshiri Crater, a summit crater of Me-Akan (also known as Meakan-dake, which means Meakan Peak) of the Akan volcanic complex, increased at 1800 on 20 November. Another seismic increase occurred on 23 November, in number and amplitude of events, prompting JMA to raise the Alert Level to 2 (the second lowest level on a 5-level scale). ... Read all
Fri, 23 Nov 2018, 05:42

Akan volcano (Hokkaido, Japan) activity update: Alert level raised

A new earthquake swarm is occurring at the Meakandake cone so JMA has raised the alert level to 2. A similar event occurred 3 years ago. The last eruption was in 2008. ... Read all
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