| RSS | EN | DE | EL | ES | FR | IT | RU

Jan Mayen Volcano

Updated: May 5, 2025 06:25 GMT -
Stratovolcano
Jan Mayen Island, Norway, 71.08°N / -8.17°W
Summit height: 2277 m / 7,470 ft
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)

[smaller] [larger]
Typical eruption style: unspecified
Jan Mayen volcano eruptions: 1985 

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and TimeMag / DepthDistance / Location
May 1, 03:29 pm (GMT +2)
1.1

10 km
26 km (16 mi) to the E Svalbard & Jan Mayen Info
May 1, 03:07 am (Universal Time)
1.3

10 km
25 km (16 mi) to the E Info
May 1, 03:18 am (GMT +2)
1.3

17 km
8 km (5 mi) to the NE Svalbard & Jan Mayen Info
May 1, 02:34 am (GMT +2)
1.2

10 km
19 km (12 mi) to the E Svalbard & Jan Mayen Info
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Apr 30, 07:54 pm (GMT +2)
1.3

10 km
20 km (13 mi) to the E Svalbard & Jan Mayen Info
Apr 30, 01:07 am (Universal Time)
1.1

10 km
25 km (16 mi) to the E Info
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Apr 29, 09:33 pm (Universal Time)
0.9

10 km
22 km (14 mi) to the NW Info
Friday, April 25, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Apr 25, 11:58 am (GMT +0)
2.4

15 km
24 km (15 mi) to the E Info
Apr 25, 06:08 am (Longyearbyen)
2.6

3.1 km
15 km (9.2 mi) to the N Info

Background

Remote Jan Mayen Island, located in the Norwegian Sea along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge about 650 km NE of Iceland, consists of two volcanic complexes separated by a narrow isthmus. The large Beerenberg basaltic stratovolcano (Nord-Jan) forms the NE end of the 40-km-long island, which is ringed by high cliffs. Beerenberg is a large 2277-m-high glacier-covered stratovolcano with a 1-km-wide summit crater and numerous cinder cones that were erupted along flank fissures. It is composed primarily of basaltic lava flows with minor amounts of tephra. Historical eruptions at Beerenberg date back to the 18th century. The Sor-Jan group of pyroclastic cones and lava domes occupies the SW tip of Jan Mayen. The Holocene Sor-Jan cinder cones, tephra rings, and trachytic lava domes were erupted from short fissures with a NE-SW trend.
---
Smithsonian / GVP volcano information

Significant volcanic eruptions: Jan Mayen volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Jan Mayen has had at least 7 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 6 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1558 AD from Jan Mayen volcano.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Jan Mayen volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Jan Mayen can be found on the news page of Jan Mayen volcano.
DateNoteVEIDeathsDamage
1985 Jan 6 - Jan 9Beerenberg (NE flank, 0-200 m)
Historical obs./docs.
0
1973 Jan 15 ±45 d.Beerenberg (NE flank, Skrukkelia)
Historical obs./docs.
1
1970 Sep 18 - 1972 ?Beerenberg (NE & SW flanks, summit)
Historical obs./docs.
3
1851 ±30 y.Beerenberg (Kokssletta, NE flank)
Historical obs./docs.
?
1818 AprBeerenberg (Dagnyhaugen, SW flank)
Historical obs./docs.
3?
1732 May 17 - May 18Beerenberg (Eggoya, SW flank)
Historical obs./docs.
4
?? 1558 or before AD
Uncertain Eruption
?
1350 ±100 y. ADBeerenberg (Eggoya, SW flank)?
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

Jan Mayen Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Jan Mayen volcano?

+How often does Jan Mayen volcano erupt?

+How active is Jan Mayen volcano at present?

+When was the largest eruption of Jan Mayen volcano?

Latest satellite images

janmayen satellite image sat1janmayen satellite image sat2

Jan Mayen 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).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of few kilometers)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Jan Mayen volcano (scale of few kilometers)
Volcanoes & Earthquakes - new app for Android
Guaranteed tours
9-25 Jun 2025: Volcanoes and Spices - Sulawesi/Halmahera (Indonesia)
7-22 Jul 2025: From Krakatau to Bali - Java (Indonesia)
7-23 Jul 2025: Volcanoes and Spices - Sulawesi/Halmahera (Indonesia)
1-17 Aug 2025: Volcanoes and Spices - Sulawesi/Halmahera (Indonesia)
1-14 Oct 2025: Desert, salt and volcanoes - Danakil desert (Ethiopia)
4-12 Oct 2025: From Stromboli to Etna - Sicily and Eolian Islands (Italy)
6-21 Oct 2025: From Krakatau to Bali - Java (Indonesia)
3-19 Nov 2025: Volcanoes and Spices - Sulawesi/Halmahera (Indonesia)
= spaces available   = guaranteed   = few spaces left   = booked out

On this page:

Try our free app!
Volcanoes & Earthquakes - new app for Android
Android | iOS version

More on VolcanoDiscovery

Why is there advertising on this site?

Support us - Help us upgrade our services!

We truly love working to bring you the latest volcano and earthquake data from around the world. Maintaining our website and our free apps does require, however, considerable time and resources.
We need financing to increase hard- and software capacity as well as support our editor team. We're aiming to achieve uninterrupted service wherever an earthquake or volcano eruption unfolds, and your donations can make it happen! Every donation will be highly appreciated. If you find the information useful and would like to support our team in integrating further features, write great content, and in upgrading our soft- and hardware, please make a donation (PayPal).

Planned features:Thanks to your past donations, these features have been added recently:
Download and Upgrade the Volcanoes & Earthquakes app to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online:
Android | IOS
Thank you!
Sources: VolcanoDiscovery / VolcanoAdventures and other sources as noted.
Use of material: Most text and images on our websites are owned by us. Re-use is generally not permitted without authorization. Contact us for licensing rights.
Volcanoes & Earthquakes
VolcanoDiscovery Home
Volcanoes | Earthquakes | Photos | Volcano News | | Shop | App
Adventure & Study Travel
Tours to Volcanoes and Volcanic Areas: walking tours, photo tours, study tours
Tours & Dates | FAQ | About us
Get our newsletter!
Company info
Contact | Legal info | Terms & conditions
Follow us
Follow us on facebook Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Bluesky Follow us on Twitter Visit our Youtube channel
EN | DE | EL | ES | FR | IT | RU
VolcanoDiscovery GmbH, Germany, Reg. nr.: HRB 103744, EU Tax Id: DE 297 465 123 owned and created by
Dr. Tom Pfeiffer, volcanologist, volcano photographer, tour organizer member of
IAVCEI
IAVCEI
Vulkanologische Gesellschaft
Volcanological Society
Ecotourism Greece
Ecotourism Greece
RUV insurance
Insured by R+V
VolcanoDiscovery © 2004- All Rights Reserved | Privacy - Cookie Settings