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Towada

Photo of this volcano
  • Japan
  • Caldera
  • 915 CE
  •  
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 40.51°N
  • 140.88°E

  • 1011 m
    3317 ft

  • 283271
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports for Towada.

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

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

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 8 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

0915 Aug 17 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 5

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Goshikiiwa (NE rim Nakanoumi crater)
0915 Aug 17 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 10 Events for Episode 1 at Goshikiiwa (NE rim Nakanoumi crater)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava dome
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
0915 Aug 17    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

0750 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Nakanoumi, To-B tephra
0750 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Nakanoumi, To-B tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
0750 BCE
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

4150 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 5

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Goshikiiwa (Nakanoumi), To-C tephra
4150 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Goshikiiwa (Nakanoumi), To-C tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
4150 BCE
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

5550 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 3 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Goshikiiwa, To-D' tephra
5550 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Goshikiiwa, To-D' tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
5550 BCE
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

6250 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Goshikiiwa, To-D tephra; Oguni Pumice
6250 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Goshikiiwa, To-D tephra; Oguni Pumice

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
6250 BCE
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

7250 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 5 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Goshikiiwa, To-E tephra; Nambu Pumice
7250 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Goshikiiwa, To-E tephra; Nambu Pumice

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
7250 BCE
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

8250 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 5

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Goshikiiwa, To-F tephra
8250 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Goshikiiwa, To-F tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
8250 BCE
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

9490 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Nakanoumi, To-G tephra; Shingo Pumice
9490 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Nakanoumi, To-G tephra; Shingo Pumice

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria
9490 BCE
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Towada.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Towada.

Photo Gallery

The 11-km-wide lake-filled Towada caldera formed during as many as six major explosive eruptions over a 40,000-year period ending about 13,000 years ago. This view from the south shows the western and northern caldera rims, which reach up to 500 m above the lake. The base of the caldera is 380 m below the lake surface.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1977 (Smithsonian Institution).
The peninsula across the center of the photo is the SW rim of Nakanoumi caldera. The 3-km-wide caldera formed about 5,400 years ago during the largest Towada Holocene eruption . The eruption was followed by the collapse of the Goshikiiwa cone at the southern end of the caldera. Clouds obscure the western caldera rim in the background.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1977 (Smithsonian Institution).
The rounded Ogurayama lava dome to the upper right formed at the end of the 915 CE Towada eruption. Three eruptions were accompanied by the emplacement of the 5 km3 Kemanai pyroclastic flow, which covered several large wooden buildings along the Yonesawa River. The dome formed along the NE rim of the Nakanoumi caldera, with its SW rim forming the peninsula in the center of the photo. The northern wall of Towada caldera appears in the distance.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1977 (Smithsonian Institution).
The 11-km-wide lake-filled Towada caldera, whose far northern wall is seen here in the distance, formed during a series of major explosive eruptions over a 40,000-year period ending about 13,000 years ago. The peninsula across the center is the rim of Nakanoumi caldera that formed by the collapse of the Goshikiiwa cone. The Ogurayama dome to the upper right was the source of the 915 CE eruption.

Photo by Yukio Hayakawa (Gunma University).
A roadcut west of the Ninokura dam exposes deposits from Towada. The thick light-colored unit at the base is the Hachinohe ignimbrite that formed about 13,000 years ago during the last of a series of explosive eruptions that resulted in the incremental formation of Towada's 11-km-wide caldera. The thinner light- and dark-colored deposits above the Hachinohe ignimbrite were produced by post-caldera eruptions, the most recent of which took place in 915 CE.

Photo by Yukio Hayakawa (Gunma University).
The 11-km-wide Towada caldera, seen here from the E, formed during as many as six major explosive eruptions over a 40,000-year period ending about 13,000 years ago. The two peninsulas extending into the large caldera lake are the rims of Nakanoumi caldera, formed by collapse of the Goshikiiwa cone in the SSE section of the caldera. The rounded lava dome that was constructed at the tip of lower peninsula is Ogurayama, the source of the 915 CE eruption.

Copyrighted photo by Yoshihiro Ishizuka (Japanese Quaternary Volcanoes database, RIODB, http://riodb02.ibase.aist.go.jp/strata/VOL_JP/EN/index.htm and Geol Surv Japan, AIST, http://www.gsj.jp/).
GVP Map Holdings

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. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

The following 2 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 116397-3 Pumice -- --
NMNH 116397-4 Pumice -- --
External Sites