Anvil Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anvil Peak |
|
|---|---|
 Anvil Peak
Location in Alaska
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,221 m (4,006 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Aleutian Islands, Alaska, United States |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Volcano |
Anvil Peak is a cone volcano. It is found in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, United States.
How Anvil Peak Got Its Name
Anvil Peak got its name in 1951. It was named by the United States Geological Survey when they made a map. The volcano has a flat area, or plateau, on its northern side. This plateau looks like an anvil, which is a heavy block of metal used by blacksmiths.
Where is Anvil Peak?
Anvil Peak is located on Semisopochnoi Island. This island is part of the Rat Islands in the western Aleutian Islands. It is one of seven hills on the island that has a crater at its top.
Anvil Peak is the highest point on Semisopochnoi Island. It is also the highest point in all of the Rat Islands. The volcano is in the northern part of the island. It is about 260 kilometers (161 miles) from Atka. It is also about 380 kilometers (237 miles) from Shemya. And it is about 420 kilometers (263 miles) from Attu.
What is Anvil Peak Made Of?
Anvil Peak has two main tops, called summits. Both of these summits are volcanic cones. The taller main summit is 1,221 meters (4,006 feet) high. This makes it the highest point on the island. Deep valleys, called ravines, surround this summit. These ravines can hold snow during certain times of the year. This peak is part of an old crater rim. Over time, erosion has made it a bit lower.
North of the main summit is a flat area called a plateau. This is the part that looks like an anvil. The plateau is about 365 meters (1,200 feet) wide. It is almost completely flat. Below this plateau are six lava flows. Each flow is about 6 meters (20 feet) wide. You can see these flows on most sides of the cliffs that hold up the flat area. These lava flows were once inside the volcano's crater. The other summit is southwest of the main one. It is a little bit shorter.
We do not know exactly when Anvil Peak first formed. However, scientists believe it formed after another volcano called Mount Cerberus. The Global Volcanism Program says it formed during the late Pleistocene epoch. This was a very long time ago. Anvil Peak has not erupted recently. Its last activity was likely thousands of years ago. Anvil Peak has been worn down a lot by erosion. This is more than other volcanoes on the islands. Its height is one reason for this.
See Also
