Dormant volcano

Dormant volcanos are the volcanos that are quiet but might erupt again in the future.^[1] If a volcano that has been silent for years erupts again or shows activity, it is called a "dormant volcano". Vesuvius of Italy is a prime example. After many years of dormancy, it re-emerged in 1931. Then it is dormant again. For example, Krakatoa in Indonesia, Aconcagua in Argentina, and Mount Fuji in Japan are dormant volcanoes.

Mt Hassan in Turkey last erupted 8500 years ago. It is a dormant volcano, and has fumaroles, which means that it is not an extinct volcano.

Fumaroles near the summit on Mount Damavand in Iran, which is a sign of a dormant volcano.

Difficult to classify

It is difficult to distinguish active and inactive volcanos.

For example, some scientists have described Mount Fuji as dormant or inactive.^[2] That volcano has been dormant since its last eruption in 1707,^[3] but is also classified as active.^[4] The Geological Survey of Japan lists Mount Fuji as among the active volcanoes on the island of Honshu.^[5]

Mis-labelled as dormant or extinct

Some volcanoes may remain dormant for a long time; and an eruption is a surprise.

Before 79 AD, Vesuvius was considered dormant.

Before 1991, the Pinatubo volcano in the Philippines was labelled as dormant.

Before 1995, the Soufriere Hills volcano on the island of Montserrat was dormant.^[6]

Before 1980, Mt. St. Helens in the United States was dormant.

Select list

There are many examples of volcanoes which are considered dormant.

• Mauna Kea in Hawaii,^[7] the United States
• Mount Edziza in Canada^[8]
• Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
• Western Victorian Volcanic Plains in Australia^[9]
• Trou aux Cerf in Mauritius
• Mount Hood in Oregon, the United States^[2]
• Lake Toba in Indonesia

Related pages

• List of volcanoes
• List of active volcanoes
• List of extinct volcanoes