Candlemas Island

Photo of this volcano
Country United Kingdom
Volcanic Region South Sandwich Volcanic Arc
Landform | Volc Type Composite | Stratovolcano
Last Known Eruption 1911 CE
Coordinates 57.08°S, 26.67°W
Elevation 550 m (1,804 ft)
Volcano Number 390100
Google Earth icon Google Earth Placemark with Features
Citation icon Cite Volcano Profile

Latest Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports available for Candlemas Island.

Latest Bulletin Report

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Candlemas Island.

Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Candlemas Island.

Bulletin Reports

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Candlemas Island.

General Information

Eruptive History

There is data available for 3 confirmed eruptive periods.

[ 1953 Dec 31 ± 365 days ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) NW flank (Lucifer Hill)
1953 Dec 31 ± 365 days - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at NW flank (Lucifer Hill)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Uncertain
1953 Dec 31 ± 365 days    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1911 Nov 6 Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) NW flank (Lucifer Hill)
1911 Nov 6 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at NW flank (Lucifer Hill)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Fumarolic or Solfataric Uncertain
1911 Nov 6    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1823 Jul 2 ± 182 days Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) NW flank (Lucifer Hill)
1823 Jul 2 ± 182 days - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at NW flank (Lucifer Hill)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Fumarolic or Solfataric Uncertain
1823    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1250 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)  

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) S Sandwich Is (probably Candlemass)
1250 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Sidereal: Ice Core

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at S Sandwich Is (probably Candlemass)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash

Synonyms and Subfeatures

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.

Photo Gallery

Thumbnail Photo (see caption)The southern end of Candlemas Island (upper right) consists of an eroded, glacier-covered stratovolcano whose lava flows may have originated from a former summit vent located east of the island. The snow-free area at the NW part of the island is Lucifer Hill, a scoria-cone complex that was the source of snow-covered lava flows seen in this image. Geysers and hot pools have been observed on several occasions during the 20th century. Vindication Island (lower left), of possible Holocene age, is located 4.5 km west of Candlemas Island.

ASTER satellite image, 2001 (National Aeronautical and Space Administration, courtesy of ASTER science team).
Thumbnail Photo (see caption)The glacier-covered peaks of Mount Andromeda (Ieft) and Mount Perseus (right) rise along the eastern side of Candlemas Island. Rocky beaches join this prominent southern part of the island to a low-relief ice-free area consisting of dark lava flows from Lucifer Hills in the north. Lucifer Hills is a complex of coalesced cinder cones with numerous active fumaroles, and dark clouds were seen emanating from the area in 1823 and 1911, indicating recent eruptions. A narrow spit, Demon Point, divides greenish Gorgon Pool from Kraken Cove (right). Medusa Pool lies below the cloud beyond Gorgon Pool. Vindication Island can be seen in the background, about 4.5 km from Candlemas. These two islands are part of the same volcanic edifice, with Vindication Island representing the oldest parts of the volcano.

Photo by HMS Endurance (courtesy of John Smellie, British Antarctic Survey).

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

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

External Sites