List of volcanoes in the United States facts for kids

The United States is home to many incredible volcanoes, from towering mountains that touch the sky to hidden craters underground. These amazing natural features are found across the country, especially in places like Alaska, Hawaii, and along the West Coast. Volcanoes are openings in the Earth's surface where hot, melted rock, ash, and gases can escape from deep inside the planet. They can be active, meaning they might erupt again, or dormant, meaning they haven't erupted in a long time but could still awaken. Some are even extinct, meaning they are very unlikely to erupt ever again.

The United States has a lot of volcanoes because it sits on the edge of several tectonic plates. These huge pieces of the Earth's crust are always moving, and where they meet, they can cause earthquakes and volcanic activity. For example, the Pacific Ring of Fire is a path around the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions happen, and parts of Alaska and the West Coast are on this ring.

What is a Volcano?

A volcano is like a vent or opening in the Earth's crust. When pressure builds up from hot, melted rock called magma deep inside the Earth, it can push its way up through this opening. When magma reaches the surface, it's called lava. Volcanoes can erupt in different ways, sometimes with explosive blasts of ash and gas, and other times with slow flows of lava.

Volcanoes in Alaska

Alaska has more volcanoes than any other state in the U.S. Many of them are part of the Aleutian Islands, a chain of islands that stretches across the Pacific Ocean. These volcanoes are very active because they are located on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Here are a few notable volcanoes in Alaska:

• Mount Augustine: This volcano is known for its dome shape and has erupted several times, including in 2005.
• Mount Cleveland: Located on an island, this volcano is one of the most active in Alaska, often showing signs of unrest. Its last eruption was very recent, in 2020.
• Mount Redoubt: A tall and impressive volcano, Mount Redoubt last erupted in 2009.
• Mount Shishaldin: This volcano is almost perfectly cone-shaped and is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian Islands, with ongoing activity.

Volcanoes in American Samoa

American Samoa is a U.S. territory in the South Pacific Ocean. It is made up of several islands that are actually the tops of large volcanoes. These volcanoes are part of the Samoa hotspot, a place where magma rises from deep within the Earth.

A well-known volcano here is:

• Vailulu'u: This is an underwater volcano that is still active. It's a fascinating example of how new land can form from volcanic activity on the ocean floor. Its last known activity was in 2003.

Volcanoes in Arizona

Arizona might seem like a desert state, but it also has volcanic areas, especially in the northern part. The San Francisco volcanic field near Flagstaff is a good example.

Some interesting volcanoes in Arizona include:

• Sunset Crater: This volcano erupted around 1075 AD, and its cinder cone is still visible today, looking like it's covered in a reddish-brown "sunset" glow.
• SP Crater: This is a very well-preserved cinder cone volcano that erupted about 5,500 years ago. It looks like a perfect cone with a lava flow extending from its base.

Volcanoes in California

California is famous for its earthquakes, but it also has several volcanoes, especially in the northern part of the state. These volcanoes are part of the Cascade Range, which stretches from northern California through Oregon and Washington.

Here are some of California's volcanoes:

• Lassen Peak: This volcano is part of the Lassen Volcanic Center and had a series of eruptions between 1914 and 1917. It's a great place to see different types of volcanic features.
• Mount Shasta: A very large and majestic volcano, Mount Shasta last erupted around 1250 AD. It's considered a potentially active volcano.
• Long Valley Caldera: This is a massive caldera, which is a large basin formed when a volcano collapses after a huge eruption. It last erupted about 50,000 years ago and is still an active geothermal area.

Volcanoes in Colorado

Colorado is known for its Rocky Mountains, but it also has some ancient volcanic areas. While most of its volcanoes are very old and no longer active, they show a long history of volcanic activity.

One notable example is:

• Dotsero: This small volcano erupted about 4,200 years ago, making it one of the youngest volcanoes in Colorado.

Volcanoes in Hawaii

Hawaii is entirely made up of volcanoes! The Hawaiian Islands formed over a hotspot in the Earth's mantle, where magma rises and creates new land. This is why Hawaii has some of the most active volcanoes in the world.

Key Hawaiian volcanoes include:

• Kilauea: One of the most active volcanoes on Earth, Kilauea has been erupting almost continuously for decades, creating new land and amazing lava flows. Its last eruption was in 2024.
• Mauna Loa: This is the largest active volcano on Earth by volume. It's a shield volcano, meaning it has gentle slopes formed by fluid lava flows. It last erupted in 2022.
• Haleakalā: Located on the island of Maui, Haleakalā is a massive shield volcano that last erupted around 1750. Its crater is so large it feels like another world.
• Kamaʻehuakanaloa Seamount (formerly Loihi): This is an active underwater volcano that is still growing. One day, it might even become a new Hawaiian island! Its last eruption was in 1996.

Volcanoes in Idaho

Idaho is home to parts of the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field and other volcanic areas. The landscape in some parts of Idaho, like the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, clearly shows its volcanic past.

• Craters of the Moon: This area looks like the surface of the moon because of its many lava flows and cinder cones. It last erupted around 130 BC.
• Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field: While mostly in Wyoming, a small part of this supervolcano extends into Idaho. Its last major eruption was about 70,000 years ago.

Volcanoes in the Northern Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands are another U.S. territory in the Pacific Ocean, also part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. These islands are volcanic, with many active and underwater volcanoes.

Major volcanoes of the Mariana Islands

Some important volcanoes here are:

• Pagan Island: This island has two main volcanoes, and the North Pagan volcano erupted as recently as 2021.
• Ahyi Seamount: This is an underwater volcano that has shown recent activity, with its last eruption in 2023.
• Ruby Seamount: Another active underwater volcano, Ruby Seamount also had an eruption in 2023.

Volcanoes in Oregon

Oregon is part of the Cascade Range, a chain of volcanoes that runs along the western United States. Many of Oregon's volcanoes are tall, snow-capped peaks.

Here are some of Oregon's famous volcanoes:

• Mount Hood: This is the highest mountain in Oregon and is considered a potentially active volcano. It last erupted in 1866.
• Crater Lake (Mount Mazama): Crater Lake is a stunning deep blue lake that fills the caldera of Mount Mazama. The mountain collapsed after a massive eruption around 2850 BC.
• Newberry Caldera: This is a large shield volcano with a caldera that contains two lakes. It last erupted around 690 AD.
• Three Sisters: This group of three peaks (North, Middle, and South Sister) are all volcanoes. South Sister last erupted around 50 BC.

Volcanoes in Washington

Washington State is also part of the Cascade Range and is home to some of the most well-known volcanoes in the U.S.

• Mount St. Helens: This volcano is famous for its huge eruption in 1980, which dramatically changed its shape. It last erupted in 2008.
• Mount Rainier: A very large and potentially active volcano, Mount Rainier is the highest peak in Washington. It last erupted in 1894.
• Mount Baker: This active volcano is covered in glaciers and last erupted in 1880.
• Glacier Peak: A remote and heavily glaciated volcano, Glacier Peak last erupted around 1700.

Volcanoes in Wyoming

Wyoming is home to one of the most famous and powerful volcanic areas in the world.

• Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field: This is often called a "supervolcano" because of its history of extremely large eruptions. While it hasn't had a massive eruption in tens of thousands of years, it's still very active with geysers, hot springs, and other geothermal features. The last magmatic eruption was about 70,000 years ago.

Images for kids

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  Major volcanoes of the Mariana Islands