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Ararat

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Volcanic Region
  • Landform | Volc Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  • 39.7°N
  • 44.3°E

  • 5,165 m
    16,946 ft

  • 213040
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for Ararat.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Ararat.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Ararat.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 3 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1840 Jul 2 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption Upper northern flank
1840 Jul 2 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 9 Events for Episode 1 at Upper northern flank

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Avalanche
   - - - -    - - - - Blocks
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
   - - - -    - - - - Edifice Destroyed Collapse/avalanche (small).
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1840 Jul 2    - - - - Fatalities
1840 Jul 2    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1783 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption
1783 - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

[ 1450 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption
1450 - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

0550 BCE Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Summit (?) and north flank
0550 BCE - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Anthropology

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Summit (?) and north flank

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Avalanche
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined) Time and Type Unknown.

2450 BCE ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption NW flank
2450 BCE ± 50 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Anthropology

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at NW flank

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
2450 BCE    - - - - Fatalities
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Ararat.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Ararat.

Photo Gallery

The snow-covered Mount Ararat massif is seen in the center of this 1992 Space Shuttle photo from the NE. The double-peaked stratovolcano is Turkey's highest, largest volume, and eastern-most volcano, near the borders with Armenia and Iran. Postglacial lava flows were erupted from flank fissures, and well-preserved craters are located on the flanks.

NASA Space Shuttle image, 1992 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).
This Space Shuttle image shows the massive 1,000 km3 snow-capped Ararat massif in March 2001. The N-trending feature descending at the top-center from the summit crater is Ahora Gorge. The conical peak of Kucuk Ararat (Lesser Ararat) is visible at the far right, and craters can be seen on the western flank of the massif at the left.

Image courtesy of Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center, 2001 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov).
Glacier-clad Mount Ararat, seen in this NASA International Space Station image, is Turkey's highest, largest volume, and easternmost volcano. Kucuk Ararat (or Lesser Ararat) lies across a saddle to the SE (right-center). Prominent lava flows with flow levees were erupted from flank vents between Greater and Lesser Ararat; one of these terminates in a fan-shaped lobe at the lower left. Pyroclastic-flow deposits from Ararat overlie early Bronze Age artifacts.

NASA International Space Station image ISS002-E-10032, 2001 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).
Snow-capped Mount Ararat is seen from the Khor Virap monastery in Armenia, NE of the volcano. Ararat, also known as Agri Dagi, is Turkey's highest and easternmost volcano, lying near the border with Armenia. Ararat appears to have been active during the 3rd millennium BCE; pyroclastic flow deposits overlie early Bronze Age artifacts and human remains.

Photo by Andrew Behesnilian (Wikimedia Commons).
Mount Ararat, or the Ağri Daği volcanic complex, in Turkey has two main edifices, Buyuk Ağrı near the center of this image and the smaller Kucuk Ağri to the SE, both seen in this October 2019 Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic (N is at the top; this image is approximately 40 km across). Large recent lava flows form the darker areas to the S of the main glaciated cone.

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).
Mount Ararat has two main edifices, the glaciated Buyuk Ağrı in the center and the smaller Kucuk Ağri to the SE of this October 2019 Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic (N is at the top; this image is approximately 33 km across). The flanks are lava flows, lava domes, craters, and explosive deposits.

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).
GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

The following 1 samples associated with this volcano can be found in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences collections, and may be availble for research (contact the Rock and Ore Collections Manager). Catalog number links will open a window with more information.

Catalog Number Sample Description Lava Source Collection Date
NMNH 52091-3 Andesite -- --
External Sites