What was erupting in the year...?
There were 60 confirmed eruptions at some point during 1985 from 54 different volcanoes; 27 of those were new eruptions that started during the year. A stop date with "(continuing)" indicates that the eruption was considered to be ongoing as of the date indicated. Data is reported through the last data update (19 September 2025). Information about more recent eruptions can be found in the Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.
| Volcano | Country | Eruption Start Date | Eruption Stop Date | Eruption Type | Max VEI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kavachi | Solomon Islands | 1985 Dec 9 | 1986 Feb 28 ± 3 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Concepcion | Nicaragua | 1985 Dec 2 ± 1 days | 1986 Apr 20 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Ulawun | Papua New Guinea | 1985 Nov 17 | 1985 Nov 22 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| San Miguel | El Salvador | 1985 Nov 16 ± 15 days | 1986 Feb 16 (on or after) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Ruapehu | New Zealand | 1985 Nov 15 | 1985 Nov 15 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Kanlaon | Philippines | 1985 Oct 5 | 1985 Dec 7 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Costa Rica | 1985 Sep 16 ± 15 days | 1986 Apr 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Suwanosejima | Japan | 1985 Sep 16 ± 15 days | 1987 Jun 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Nevado del Ruiz | Colombia | 1985 Sep 11 | 1991 Jul 13 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Raung | Indonesia | 1985 Aug 23 | 1986 Feb 28 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Klyuchevskoy | Russia | 1985 Aug 16 | 1986 Jan 21 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Ahyi | United States | 1985 Aug 2 | 1985 Sep 5 | Submarine | 0 |
| Sangeang Api | Indonesia | 1985 Jul 30 | 1988 Feb 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Colima | Mexico | 1985 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1986 Jan 5 ± 4 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| El Misti | Peru | 1985 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Unknown | 1 | |
| Tokachidake | Japan | 1985 Jun 19 | 1985 Jun 22 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Piton de la Fournaise | France | 1985 Jun 14 | 1986 Apr 5 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Bezymianny | Russia | 1985 Jun 12 | 1985 Dec 14 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Sheveluch | Russia | 1985 May 26 | 1985 Oct 25 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Ruapehu | New Zealand | 1985 May 21 (on or before) | 1985 Jun 9 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Soputan | Indonesia | 1985 May 19 | 1985 May 20 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Guagua Pichincha | Ecuador | 1985 May 16 ± 15 days | 1985 Jun 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Kanlaon | Philippines | 1985 Mar 13 | 1985 Mar 14 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Paluweh | Indonesia | 1985 Feb 3 | 1985 Feb 3 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Heard | Australia | 1985 Jan 14 | 1987 Jan 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Teahitia | France | 1985 Jan 10 | 1985 Jan 25 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Jan Mayen | Norway | 1985 Jan 6 | 1985 Jan 9 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Ulawun | Papua New Guinea | 1984 Dec 30 | 1985 Jan 27 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Nevado del Ruiz | Colombia | 1984 Dec 22 | 1985 Mar 19 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Concepcion | Nicaragua | 1984 Dec 16 ± 15 days | 1985 Jan 2 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Lascar | Chile | 1984 Dec 16 ± 15 days | 1985 Jul 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Villarrica | Chile | 1984 Aug 11 | 1985 Nov 18 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Gorely | Russia | 1984 Aug 4 | 1986 Sep 21 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Ambrym | Vanuatu | 1984 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1986 Mar 8 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Tinakula | Solomon Islands | 1984 Jun 3 (on or before) | 1985 Jun 13 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Asosan | Japan | 1984 Apr 13 ± 3 days | 1985 Jun 24 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Klyuchevskoy | Russia | 1984 Mar 10 | 1985 Jan 28 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Karangetang | Indonesia | 1983 May 16 ± 15 days | 1988 Dec 31 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Kilauea | United States | 1983 Jan 3 | 2018 Sep 5 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Ol Doinyo Lengai | Tanzania | 1983 Jan 1 | 1993 Sep 24 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Pagan | United States | 1981 May 15 | 1985 May 1 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 4 |
| St. Helens | United States | 1980 Mar 27 | 1986 Oct 28 ± 3 days | Explosive / Effusive | 5 |
| Etna | Italy | 1979 Jul 3 | 1993 Mar 30 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Manam | Papua New Guinea | 1974 Mar 4 (?) | 1999 Nov 9 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Nevados de Chillan | Chile | 1973 Jul 16 ± 15 days | 1986 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Langila | Papua New Guinea | 1973 Feb 24 ± 4 days | 2000 Oct 16 (on or after) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Erebus | Antarctica | 1972 Dec 16 (on or before) ± 15 days | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Lava Lake | 2 |
| Merapi | Indonesia | 1972 Oct 6 | 1985 Mar 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Bagana | Papua New Guinea | 1972 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1995 Jul 2 (on or after) ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Arenal | Costa Rica | 1968 Jul 29 | 2010 Dec 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Semeru | Indonesia | 1967 Aug 31 | 2009 Mar 15 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Erta Ale | Ethiopia | 1967 Jul 2 (in or before) ± 182 days | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Masaya | Nicaragua | 1965 Oct 10 (?) | 1985 Apr 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Pacaya | Guatemala | 1965 Jul 4 | 1989 Mar 10 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Aira | Japan | 1955 Oct 13 | 2016 Aug 22 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Sangay | Ecuador | 1934 Aug 8 | 2011 Mar 2 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Stromboli | Italy | 1934 Feb 2 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Dukono | Indonesia | 1933 Aug 13 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Santa Maria | Guatemala | 1922 Jun 22 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Yasur | Vanuatu | 1270 ± 110 years | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
List of Questions
Global Volcanism Program, 2025. [Database] Volcanoes of the World (v. 5.3.3; 26 Nov 2025). Distributed by Smithsonian Institution, compiled by Venzke, E. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW5-2025.5.3
