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Farallon de Pájaros

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 20.546°N
  • 144.893°E

  • 337 m
    1106 ft

  • 284140
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Bulletin Report: June 1992 (BGVN 17:06) Citation IconCite this Report

Vigorous fuming

When observed from an airplane on 13 May, the volcano continued to fume vigorously, but no active lava was seen.

Information Contacts: R. Moore, USGS; R. Koyanagi, M. Sako, and F. Trusdell, HVO.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Farallon de Pájaros.

Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

09/1981 (SEAN 06:09) Normal fuming and discolored water

10/1990 (BGVN 15:10) Vigorous fuming

06/1992 (BGVN 17:06) Vigorous fuming




Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


September 1981 (SEAN 06:09) Citation IconCite this Report

Normal fuming and discolored water

"A 16 July USN flight also covered the Quaternary volcanoes of the Marianas. Fuming and discolored water were observed at Farallon de Pajaros but were not anomalous conditions."

Information Contacts: N. Banks, HVO.


October 1990 (BGVN 15:10) Citation IconCite this Report

Vigorous fuming

"Photographs taken by Civil Defense personnel in early August 1990 from a fixed-wing airplane showed vigorous fuming."

Information Contacts: R. Moore, USGS; R. Koyanagi and M. Sako, HVO.


June 1992 (BGVN 17:06) Citation IconCite this Report

Vigorous fuming

When observed from an airplane on 13 May, the volcano continued to fume vigorously, but no active lava was seen.

Information Contacts: R. Moore, USGS; R. Koyanagi, M. Sako, and F. Trusdell, HVO.

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 17 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1967 Mar 27 - 1967 Apr 10 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode SW of Uracas (Makhahnas seamount)
1967 Mar 27 - 1967 Apr 10 Evidence from Observations: Hydrophonic

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at SW of Uracas (Makhahnas seamount)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
1967 Mar 27    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1952 Oct 26 ± 5 days - 1953 Apr 15 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Summit, east side
1952 Oct 26 ± 5 days - 1953 Apr 15 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 8 Events for Episode 1 at Summit, east side

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Entered water.
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
   - - - -    - - - - Bombs
   - - - -    - - - - Blocks
1952 Oct 26 ± 5 days    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1951 Aug 16 ± 15 days Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1951 Aug 16 ± 15 days - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Crater Summit.
1951 Aug    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1947 Jan (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode North side
1947 Jan (?) - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at North side

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Entered water.
1947 Jan
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1943 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Summit, south side
1943 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Summit, south side

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Entered water.
   - - - -    - - - - Edifice Destroyed Explosion
1943    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1941 Mar 28 Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1941 Mar 28 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

1939 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode East side ?
1939 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at East side ?

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Entered water. Uncertain
1939    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1936 Apr 15 ± 45 days Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1936 Apr 15 ± 45 days - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
1936 Apr 15 ± 45 days    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1934 Jul 15 ± 45 days Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Immediately south of Uracas
1934 Jul 15 ± 45 days - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Immediately south of Uracas

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
1934 Jul 15 ± 45 days    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1932 Sep 7 - 1932 Oct 7 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Summit, east side ?
1932 Sep 7 - 1932 Oct 7 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Summit, east side ?

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Entered water.
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
1932 Sep 7    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1928 Dec 15 ± 5 days Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1928 Dec 15 ± 5 days - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
1928 Dec 15 ± 5 days    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1925 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1925 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
1925    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1912 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode North side ?
1912 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at North side ?

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Entered water. Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
1912    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1900 (?) - 1901 May Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Summit, east side
1900 (?) - 1901 May Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Summit, east side

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Entered water.
1900
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1876 Jan 1 (?) - 1876 Jan 3 (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Summit, NE side
1876 Jan 1 (?) - 1876 Jan 3 (?) Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Summit, NE side

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1872 Jul 11 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1872 Jul 11 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1865 ] Discredited Eruption

1864 Jan 7 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode SW side
1864 Jan 7 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at SW side

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
1864 Jan 7    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Farallon de Pájaros.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Farallon de Pájaros.

Photo Gallery

Explosive activity was frequently observed from Farallon de Pajoras volcano in October and November 1952. Lava flows were emplaced on the E and W sides of the summit in February-March 1953. This 1953 photo from the E shows a small plume rising above the summit crater and lighter-gray lava flows in the center that erupted in 1953. The lobe just left of center eventually reached the coast. Explosive activity continued until 15 April. The steep-sided peak on the SE coastline is a remnant of an older caldera.

Photo by U.S. Navy, 1953.
The 2-km-wide island of Farallon de Pajaros is the northernmost and most active volcano of the Mariana Islands. It has been referred to as the "Lighthouse of the western Pacific." The symmetrical, sparsely vegetated cone formed within a caldera, remnants of which form the peak seen here in 1980 in the center along the SE coast. Both summit and flank vents have been active during historical time; flank fissures formed lava flows along the coast.

Photo by Winfrey, 1980 (U.S. Navy).
This 1980 photo from the SE of the small island volcano of Farallón de Pájaros shows unvegetated lava flows that diverted around the vegetated peak to the lower right, which is a remant of a caldera that formed prior to the formation of the present cone.

Photo by Winfrey, 1980 (U.S. Navy).
Ahyi seamount (upper right) is a large submarine volcano that rises to within about 150 m of the sea surface about 18 km SE of the island of Farallon de Pajaros (left-center). At various times since 1979, water discoloration, felt seismicity followed by upwelling of sulfur-bearing water, and a seismically detected submarine eruption have been reported at or near the seamount. Two submarine volcanoes on the flanks of Farallon de Pajaros, Northwest Uracas and Makhahnas, are seen in this NOAA bathymetric image.

Image courtesy of NOAA, 2003 (http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03fire/logs/mar02/media/nikko.html).
GVP Map Holdings

The Global Volcanism Program has no maps available for Farallon de Pájaros.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Farallon de Pájaros in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites