Spurr Volcano

Updated: May 1, 2025 13:03 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano

Cook Inlet, SW Alaska, 61.3°N / -152.25°W

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Summit height: 3374 m / 11,070 ft

Current status: restless (2 out of 5)

Last update: 19 Mar 2025 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

Mt Spurr volcano is the highest volcano in the Aleutian Volcanic Arc. the glacier-covered stratovolcano is located 130 km west of Anchorage and NE of Chakachamna Lake.
Mt Spurr had a violent sub-plinian eruption in 1992 and a large eruption in 1953, both ranking at VEI 4 and produced by Crater Peak, a small flank vent on the south side. No other historic eruptions have been documented.

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Spurr webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: explosive
Spurr volcano eruptions: 1992 (Crater Peak), 1965 (?, Spurr), 1953 (Crater Peak)
tephrochronology and radiocarbon dated: 1650 ± 50 years, 3250 BC ?, 4050 BC ?, 5110 BC ± 100 years, 6050 BC

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
Apr 30, 08:08 pm (Universal Time)	0.0 2.4 km	2 km (1.2 mi) to the S	64 km WNW of Tyonek, Alaska	Info
Apr 30, 04:49 pm (Universal Time)	0.9 0 km	4.1 km (2.6 mi) to the E	61 km WNW of Beluga, Alaska	Info
Apr 30, 03:29 pm (Universal Time)	0.3 10.1 km	18 km (11 mi) to the SW	75 km W of Tyonek, Alaska	Info
Apr 30, 09:13 am (Universal Time)	0.3 4 km	11 km (6.9 mi) to the S	64 km WNW of Tyonek, Alaska	Info
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Apr 29, 02:27 am (Universal Time)	0.4 2.1 km	2.9 km (1.8 mi) to the N	65 km WNW of Beluga, Alaska	Info
Monday, April 28, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Apr 28, 07:44 pm (Universal Time)	0.1 2.8 km	2.3 km (1.4 mi) to the S	Southern Alaska	Info
Apr 28, 06:21 am (Universal Time)	0.1 16 km	10.7 km (6.7 mi) to the SE	55 km WNW of Tyonek, Alaska	Info
Friday, April 25, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Apr 25, 08:18 am (Universal Time)	1.4 95 km	20 km (13 mi) to the SE	45 km WNW of Tyonek, Alaska	Info
Apr 25, 03:59 am (Universal Time)	1.3 87 km	23 km (14 mi) to the NE	49 km WNW of Beluga, Alaska	Info

View recent quakes

Background

The 3374-m-high summit of Mount Spurr, the highest volcano of the Aleutain arc, is a large lava dome constructed at the center of a roughly 5-km-wide horseshoe-shaped caldera that is open to the south.
The caldera was formed by a late-Pleistocene or early Holocene debris avalanche and associated pyroclastic flows that destroyed an ancestral Spurr volcano. The debris avalanche traveled more than 25 km to the SE, and the resulting deposit contains blocks as large as 100 m in diameter. Several ice-carved post-caldera cones or lava domes lie in the center of the caldera. The youngest vent, 2309-m-high Crater Peak, formed at the breached southern end of the caldera and has been the source of about 40 identified Holocene tephra layers. Spurr's two historical eruptions, from Crater Peak in 1953 and 1992, deposited ash on the city of Anchorage.
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from: Smithsonian / GVP Mt Spurr volcano information

Significant volcanic eruptions: Spurr volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Spurr has had at least 7 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 2 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1954 from Spurr volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Spurr volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Spurr can be found on the news page of Spurr volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
1992 Jun 27 - Sep 17	South flank (Crater Peak) Historical obs./docs.	4
1992 Sep 17 (eruption 1992 Jun 27 - Sep 17)	Historical obs./docs.	4	1	light	Info
1992 Sep 17: Following 39 years of inactivity, Crater Peak vent on the south flank of Mount Spurr volcano burst into eruption at 7:04 a.m. Alaska daylight time (ADT) on June 27, 1992.The Municipality of Anchorage reported nearly $2 million in damage, office closures, and cleanup costs from the August eruption. In addition, there were numerous, small-scale losses incurred by businesses. No loss of life resulted directly from the eruptions. However, two heart attacks, one fatal, from shoveling ashfall were reported in Anchorage. (reference #9166) One person in Anchorage died from a heart attack while shoveling ash from the eruption. (reference #9675) Cited references #9166 Eichelberger, John C., Terry E.C. Keith, Thomas P. Miller, and Christopher J. Nye (1995): The 1992 eruptions of Crater Peak vent, Mount Spurr volcano, Alaska: chronology and summary. GSA Bulletin. #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. #10953 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 551 p. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1954 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Discredited Eruption
1953 Jul 9 - Jul 16	South flank (Crater Peak) Historical obs./docs.	4
1650 ±50 y. AD	South flank (Crater Peak)	?
3250 ? BC	Mt. Spurr central lava/cone complex	?
4050 ? BC	South flank (Crater Peak)	?
5110 ±100 y. BC	Mt. Spurr central dome/cone complex	?
6050 ? BC	Mt. Spurr central dome/cone complex	?

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

Eruptions of Spurr volcano

1992 eruption
A large, subplinian eruption occurred in 1992 at Mt Spurr volcano. There were 3 main explosions, on 27 June, 18 August and 16-17 September. The eruption produced ash columns up to 13.5 km high and ashfall in several hundred km distance. ...more info

1953 eruption
A VEI 4 explosive eruption occurred at Crater Peak from 9-16 July 1953. It produced major ash fall (up to 6 mm in Anchorage) and lahars on the flanks and the base of the volcano.

Spurr Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Spurr volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Spurr occurred in 1992.

+How often does Spurr volcano erupt?

There are no known historic eruptions, but evidence from geologic records shows that it has had at least 7 eruptions over the past 10,000 years. This number is likely much higher because many past eruptions might not have left evidence recognizeable today and/or the volcano might not have been studied in too much detail. Using the available data, a very conservative estimate is that Spurr volcano erupts every 1,400 years.

+How active is Spurr volcano at present?

Spurr volcano is occasionally active: Since 1900, it has had 2 eruptions, and been active during 2 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Spurr has been in eruption one in 63 years on average. The last eruption was in 1992 and ended 33 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Spurr volcano?

The largest eruption of Spurr volcano in historic times occurred in 1992. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Spurr 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).