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Symmetrical snow-clad cone of Shishaldin volcano in the Aleutian Islands
Photo:Chris Nye
Volcano Dossier•GVP #311360
54.76°N, 163.97°W
Erupted since 2000
United States→

Volcano Shishaldin

The symmetrical snow-covered cone at the heart of Unimak Island in the Aleutians and one of the most active volcanoes in the arc. In 2023 it produced more than a dozen explosive episodes whose ash clouds reached the North Pacific flight routes between North America and Asia.

Last eruption

2023

Erupted since 2000

Summit

2.9 km

Stratovolcano · Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Activity

Normal Baseline

0 events (1.0x rate)

Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map

Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.

Recent seismicity within 50 km

0 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.

TimeMagnitudeEpicenter / PlaceDistance
5d agoM1.442 km W of False Pass, Alaska9.0 km
5d agoM1.121 km WSW of False Pass, Alaska17 km
8d agoM1.359 km WSW of False Pass, Alaska23 km
12d agoM2.429 km WSW of False Pass, Alaska8.4 km
13d agoM3.735 km SW of False Pass, Alaska17 km
13d agoM1.858 km WSW of False Pass, Alaska22 km
20d agoM2.560 km SSW of False Pass, Alaska42 km
29d agoM1.456 km WSW of False Pass, Alaska20 km
31d agoM1.827 km SSW of False Pass, Alaska31 km
37d agoM1.527 km SSW of False Pass, Alaska30 km
38d agoM2.135 km SSW of False Pass, Alaska37 km
38d agoM1.238 km WSW of False Pass, Alaska4.9 km
42d agoM2.522 km WNW of False Pass, Alaska27 km
51d agoM1.235 km SSW of False Pass, Alaska37 km
51d agoM0.849 km WSW of False Pass, Alaska12 km
54d agoM2.125 km S of False Pass, Alaska39 km
56d agoM2.418 km SW of False Pass, Alaska24 km
56d agoM1.816 km SW of False Pass, Alaska23 km
61d agoM2.045 km SSW of False Pass, Alaska31 km
64d agoM0.828 km S of False Pass, Alaska35 km
64d agoM0.486 km ENE of Akutan, Alaska50 km
75d agoM1.579 km WSW of False Pass, Alaska42 km
78d agoM0.584 km WSW of False Pass, Alaska48 km
86d agoM1.931 km SSW of False Pass, Alaska33 km
86d agoM2.330 km SSW of False Pass, Alaska34 km

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Stratovolcano

Shishaldin is an active Stratovolcano formed in an active Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km). Dominant lithology: Basalt / Picro-Basalt.

Edifice TypeStratovolcano
Major rockBasalt / Picro-Basalt
TectonicsSubduction zone
Volcanic ArcAleutian Ridge Volcanic Arc

Volcano Dossier

VN #311360

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

CountryUnited States
Crater Coordinates54.756°, -163.970°
Summit2.9 km
SubregionAleutian Ridge Volcanic Arc
Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#311360)

Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure

All 18 Networks & VAAC →
Seismic ObservatoryUSGS VHP
USGS Volcano Hazards Program (HVO / CVO / AVO)
Official Portal
ICAO Aviation Ash Center
Washington VAAC (NOAA / NESDIS)
College Park, MD, USA
VAAC Advisory Desk
Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →
Regional Seismic Profile

Alaska & Aleutian Arc

Explore live seismic monitoring, historical danger benchmarks, fault slip models and recurrence intervals for Alaska & Aleutian Arc.

Open Regional Hub

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols

The most recent eruption of Shishaldin recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2023.

Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile