Popa Volcano
Updated: May 2, 2025 14:52 GMT -
stratovolcano
Myanmar, 20.92°N / 95.25°E 
Summit height: 1518 m / 4,980 ft
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Mt. Popa volcano is a large stratovolcano at the northern end of the
Pegu Yoma Hills range in central Burma.
The steep-sided volcano rises 1150 m from its base of a surrounding lava plateau. It had an eruption in or around 442 BC, which is preserved in local legends.
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Popa volcano eruptions: 442 BC
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Background
The main edifice of Mt Popa consists of overlapping basaltic and basaltic-andesite lava flows, tephra layers and scoria deposits from strombolian eruptions, which seem to have prevailed during the later stages of its formation.Mount Popa contains a 1.6-km-wide, 850-m-deep horseshoe-shaped caldera that is widely breached to the NW and formed as a result of slope failure. A 3 cu km debris-avalanche deposit covers an area of 27 sq km north of the breach.
Source: Mt Popa volcano Smithsonian / GVP information
Significant volcanic eruptions: Popa volcano
No historic eruptions are known from Popa volcano, but at least one eruption in 6050 BC can be inferred from geological evidence. There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 442 BC from Popa volcano.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Popa volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Popa can be found on the news page of Popa volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | |||
| 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
Popa Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Popa volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Popa occurred in 6050 BC.
+When was the largest eruption of Popa volcano?
The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Popa volcano occurred in 6050 BC. 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
Popa 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 Popa volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Popa volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Popa volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Popa volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Popa volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Popa volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Popa volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Popa volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Popa volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Popa volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Popa volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Popa volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Popa volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Popa volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Popa volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Popa volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Popa volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Popa volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Popa volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Popa volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Popa volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Popa volcano (scale of few kilometers)
