Antarctica Volcanoes
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Antarctica has 19 Holocene volcanoes. Note that as a scientific organization we provide these listings for informational purposes only, with no international legal or policy implications. Volcanoes will be included on this list if they are within the boundaries of a country, on a shared boundary or area, in a remote territory, or within a maritime Exclusive Economic Zone. Bolded volcanoes have erupted within the past 20 years. Suggestions and data updates are always welcome ().
Volcano Name | Last Eruption | Volcanic Region | Primary Landform |
---|---|---|---|
Andrus | Unknown - Evidence Uncertain | Western Antarctica Volcanic Province | Shield |
Berlin | 8350 BCE | Western Antarctica Volcanic Province | Shield |
Bridgeman Island | Unknown - Evidence Uncertain | South Shetlands Volcanic Arc | Composite |
Buckle Island | 1899 CE | Balleny Hotspot Volcano Group | Composite |
Deception Island | 1970 CE | South Shetlands Volcanic Arc | Caldera |
Erebus | 2025 CE | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Composite |
Hudson Mountains | 207 BCE | Western Antarctica Volcanic Province | Composite |
Melbourne | 1892 CE | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Composite |
Melville | Unknown - Evidence Uncertain | South Shetlands Volcanic Arc | Composite |
Morning | Unknown - Evidence Uncertain | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Shield |
Mount Haddington Volcanic Field | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Antarctic Peninsula Volcanic Province | Shield |
Paulet | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Antarctic Peninsula Volcanic Province | Minor (Basaltic) |
Penguin Island | 1905 CE | South Shetlands Volcanic Arc | Composite |
The Pleiades | 1050 BCE | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Composite |
Royal Society Range | Unknown - Evidence Uncertain | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Cluster |
Sturge Island | Unknown - Evidence Uncertain | Balleny Hotspot Volcano Group | Composite |
Takahe | 5550 BCE | Western Antarctica Volcanic Province | Shield |
Unnamed | Unknown - Evidence Uncertain | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Caldera |
Young Island | Unknown - Evidence Uncertain | Balleny Hotspot Volcano Group | Composite |
Chronological listing of known Holocene eruptions (confirmed or uncertain) from volcanoes in Antarctica. Bolded eruptions indicate continuing activity.
Volcano Name | Start Date | Stop Date | Certainty | VEI | Evidence |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Deception Island | [1987 Jul 23] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Hudson Mountains | [1985 Jul 2 ± 182 days] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Seal Nunataks Volcanic Field | [1980 Jun 15 ± 545 days] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Erebus | 1972 Dec 16 (on or before) ± 15 days | 2025 Feb 21 (continuing) | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Deception Island | [1972 Sep 29] | [1972 Sep 29] | Uncertain | ||
Erebus | 1972 Jan 3 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 1 | Observations: Reported |
Deception Island | 1970 Aug 12 | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Observations: Reported |
Deception Island | 1969 Feb 21 | 1969 Mar 16 ± 15 days | Confirmed | 3 | Observations: Reported |
Deception Island | 1967 Dec 4 | 1967 Dec 7 | Confirmed | 3 | Observations: Reported |
Erebus | 1963 Nov 16 (on or before) ± 15 days | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Erebus | [1957 Jul 2 ± 182 days] | [1958 Jul 2 ± 182 days] | Uncertain | ||
Erebus | 1955 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Erebus | 1947 Feb | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Erebus | 1915 Aug | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Erebus | 1915 Mar 22 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Erebus | 1912 Dec 12 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Deception Island | 1912 ± 5 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Observations: Reported |
Erebus | 1911 Oct | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Erebus | 1911 Apr | 1911 Jun | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Erebus | 1908 Mar | 1908 Nov | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Penguin Island | 1905 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Chem/Bio: Lichenometry | |
Erebus | 1903 Jan 1 ± 730 days | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Erebus | [1900 Feb] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Buckle Island | 1899 Jan 12 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Seal Nunataks Volcanic Field | [1893 Dec 11] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Melbourne | 1892 ± 30 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Correlation: Tephrochronology | |
Deception Island | 1871 ± 40 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Correlation: Tephrochronology | |
Penguin Island | 1850 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Observations: Reported | |
Paulet | [1850] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Deception Island | 1842 Feb | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Erebus | 1841 Jan 28 (?) | 1841 Feb | Confirmed | 1 | Observations: Reported |
Buckle Island | 1839 Feb 9 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Deception Island | [1839 (in or before)] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Deception Island | 1827 ± 2 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Observations: Reported | |
Deception Island | 1800 (in or before) | Unknown | Confirmed | Observations: Reported | |
Penguin Island | 1683 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Chem/Bio: Lichenometry | |
Deception Island | 1641 ± 3 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Sidereal: Ice Core | |
Deception Island | 1500 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Deception Island | 1200 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Erebus | 0950 ± 4000 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Isotopic: Ar/Ar |
Deception Island | 0900 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Deception Island | 0600 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Deception Island | 0100 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Deception Island | 0100 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Hudson Mountains | 0207 BCE ± 240 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Sidereal: Ice Core |
Deception Island | 0250 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Deception Island | 0550 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Deception Island | 0700 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Deception Island | 0750 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Deception Island | 0800 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
The Pleiades | 1050 BCE ± 14000 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: K/Ar | |
Deception Island | 1550 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Erebus | 2050 BCE ± 3000 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Isotopic: Ar/Ar |
Deception Island | 2750 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Erebus | 2950 BCE ± 300 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Isotopic: Cosmic Ray Exposure |
Deception Island | 3250 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Erebus | 4050 BCE ± 500 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Isotopic: Cosmic Ray Exposure |
Erebus | 4550 BCE ± 500 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Isotopic: Cosmic Ray Exposure |
Takahe | 5550 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Sidereal: Ice Core | |
Takahe | 6250 BCE ± 5400 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: Ar/Ar | |
Deception Island | 6750 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Takahe | 7050 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Sidereal: Ice Core | |
Erebus | 7050 BCE ± 2000 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Isotopic: Ar/Ar |
Erebus | 8050 BCE ± 5000 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Isotopic: Ar/Ar |
Berlin | 8350 BCE ± 5300 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Isotopic: Ar/Ar |
Antarctica has 29 Pleistocene volcanoes. Note that as a scientific organization we provide these listings for informational purposes only, with no international legal or policy implications. Volcanoes will be included on this list if they are within the boundaries of a country, on a shared boundary or area, in a remote territory, or within a maritime Exclusive Economic Zone. Suggestions and data updates are always welcome ().
Volcano Name | Volcanic Region | Primary Volcano Type |
---|---|---|
Adare Peninsula | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Shield |
Argo Point | Antarctic Peninsula Volcanic Province | Minor |
Beaufort Island | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Composite |
Beethoven Peninsula | Western Antarctica Volcanic Province | Cluster |
Black Island | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Minor |
Brabant Island | Antarctic Peninsula Volcanic Province | Cluster |
Bursey | Western Antarctica Volcanic Province | Shield |
Crary Group | Western Antarctica Volcanic Province | Cluster |
Discovery | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Composite |
Franklin Island | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Shield |
Gaussberg | Eastern Antarctica Volcanic Province | Minor |
Hut Point Peninsula | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Cluster |
Livingston-Greenwich Islands | South Shetlands Volcanic Arc | Minor |
Mason Spur | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Cluster |
Murphy | Western Antarctica Volcanic Province | Shield |
Obiglio | Western Antarctica Volcanic Province | Minor |
Peter I Island | Western Antarctica Volcanic Province | Shield |
Mount Rittmann | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Shield |
Seal Nunataks Volcanic Field | Antarctic Peninsula Volcanic Province | Cluster |
Shepard Island | Western Antarctica Volcanic Province | Minor |
Siple | Western Antarctica Volcanic Province | Shield |
Tabarin Peninsula | Antarctic Peninsula Volcanic Province | Shield |
Taylor Valley | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Minor |
Terror | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Shield |
Toney Mountain | Western Antarctica Volcanic Province | Shield |
Transantarctic Mountain Foothills | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Minor |
Unnamed | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Cluster |
Waesche | Western Antarctica Volcanic Province | Shield |
White Island | McMurdo Volcanic Province | Shield |
There are 42 photos available for volcanoes in Antarctica.

U. S. Navy photo TMA 1718 F33 022.

Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).

Photo by Melvin Vye, 2006.

Photo by Bill Rose, 1983 (Michigan Technological University).

Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).

Photo by Bernardo Blass, 1967 (published in González-Ferrán, 1995).

Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).

Photo by Bill Rose, 1983 (Michigan Technological University).

Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).

Photo by British Antarctic Survey, 1967 (published in González-Ferrán, 1995).

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1984.

Photo by the Chilean Navy, 1967 (published in González-Ferrán, 1995).

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1984.

Photo by Bernardo Blass, 1967 (published in González-Ferrán, 1995).

Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).

Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).

Photo by Juan Bastias (published in González-Ferrán, 1995).

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1984.

Photo published in González-Ferrán (1995).

Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).

Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2020.

Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).

Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).

U. S. Navy photo TMA 1627 F33 088, 1985.

Photo by Bill Rose, 1983 (Michigan Technological University).

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1984

Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2019.

Photo by Jeff Post, 2007 (Smithsonian Institution).

Photo by Bill Rose, 1983 (Michigan Technological University).

Photo by Bill Rose, 1983 (Michigan Technological University).

Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).

Photo by Bill Rose, 1983 (Michigan Technological University).

Photo by Bill Rose, 1983 (Michigan Technological University).

Photo by Arrigo Caserta, 2000 (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Roma).

Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2020.

Photo by U.S. Navy.

Photo by Bill Rose, 1983 (Michigan Technological University).

Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).

Photo by Richard Waitt, 1972 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2020.

Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2020.

U. S. Navy photo TMA 2035 F31 203.
This is a compilation of Antarctica volcano information sources, such as official monitoring or other government agencies.
Volcanic Ash Advisory Center | |
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Buenos Aires Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) | |
- Buenos Aires VAAC Archive |