West Eifel Volcanic Field Volcano
Updated: Apr 23, 2025 11:25 GMT -
Volcanic field, maars, cinder cones
Germany, 50.17°N / 6.85°E 
Summit height: 600 m / 1,969 ft
Current status: (probably) extinct (0 out of 5)
The West Eifel Volcanic Field of western Germany is located SW of the city of Bonn and covers an area of approx. 600 sq km. It contains approx. 240 cinder cones and explosion craters, often lake-filled, known as maars, as well as small stratovolcanoes.
Most of the volcanic activity in this area took place mostly in past 730,000 years, with the most recent eruption dating back little more than 10,000 years at the Ulmener, Pulvermaar, and Strohn maars.
[smaller] [larger]
West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano eruptions: 10,300 years ago
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Background
The smaller, but better known, East Eifel Volcanic Field is about 40 km NE. Individual vents spread across a broad NW-SE-trending area extending about 50 km from the towns of Ormont on the NW to Bad Bertrich on the SE. Eruptions originated from a mantle plume through Devonian sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.Two-thirds of the volcanic centers in the field are scoria cones; lava flows have been produced from about half of them. About 30% of the centers are maars or tuff rings, many of which are occupied by lakes.
About 230 eruptions have occurred during the past 730,000 years. The latest eruptions formed the Ulmener, Pulvermaar, and Strohn maars around the end of the Pleistocene and the beginning of the Holocene.
The West Eifel volcanic field is part of the Vulkaneifel, a UNESCO Global Geopark property.
West Eifel Volcanic Field Volcano Photos
The famous Wingertsbergwand, an excellent exposure of proximal pyroclastic fall and surge deposits form the Plinian Laacher See volcano eruption 10,700 years ago (East Ei...
Pyroclastic deposits fro the Laacher See volcano eruption 10,700 years ago (East Eifel volcanic field, Western Germany) (Photo: Tobias Schorr)
Significant volcanic eruptions: West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano
No historic eruptions are known from West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano, but evidence from at least 2 eruptions during the past 10,000 years can be found in the geological record.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of West Eifel Volcanic Field can be found on the news page of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strohn, Pulvermaar | ? | ||||
| Ulmener Maar | ? | ||||
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
West Eifel Volcanic Field Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of West Eifel Volcanic Field occurred around 8300 BC.
Latest satellite images
West Eifel Volcanic Field 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 West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of West Eifel Volcanic Field volcano (scale of few kilometers)
