Medicine Lake Volcano
Medicine Lake is a large shield volcano in northeastern California about 50 km (30 mi) northeast of Mount Shasta, rising about 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) above the Modoc Plateau to an elevation of 2,376 metres (7,795 ft). It contains a 12 km x 7 km wide caldera.
The shield volcano is composed primarily of basaltic lava flows up to about 1 km thick, but measures 35 from E to W and 45 km from N to S, covering more than 2000 km2. Its sheer weight has bended the underlying strata down by 0.5 km under its center. It contains at least 600 km3 of lava, making it the most voluminous volcano of the Cascades.
Although it probably has not erupted for 1000 years, there have been at least 6 eruptions during the past 4,000 years, and it is likely to erupt again in the future. Its proximity to inhabited towns, roads and other infrastructure, it has been designated a "high threat volcano" by the USGS.
It is believed that the Medicine Lake volcano is fed by many small magma chambers rather than one large one.
Medicine Lake volcano eruptions: 1910(?), 1080, 890 ± 100, 830, 800(?), 720(?), 50 BC(?), 780 BC ± 100, 1080 BC ± 50, 2410 BC ± 100
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Significant volcanic eruptions: Medicine Lake volcano
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1910 from Medicine Lake volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 1? | |||
| Upper east flank (Glass Mountain) | 3? | ||||
| SW flank (Little Glass Mountain) | 3 | ||||
| SW flank (Paint Pot Crater) | ? | ||||
| North flank | ? | ||||
| NE caldera rim (Mt. Hoffman area) | ? | ||||
| SE flank | ? | ||||
| Lower north flank (Black Crater) | ? | ||||
| SE caldera rim | ? | ||||
| NW caldera floor (Medicine Lake Glass flow) | ? | ||||
Medicine Lake Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Medicine Lake volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Medicine Lake occurred in 1060 AD.
+When was the largest eruption of Medicine Lake volcano?
The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Medicine Lake volcano occurred in 1060 AD. It only has a VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) of , likely because it was a mainly effusive eruption generating lava flows but very little ash.
Latest satellite images
Medicine Lake Volcano Maps
