Mount Adagdak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Adagdak |
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Mount Adagdak in 2000
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,001 ft (610 m) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Adagdak
Location in Alaska
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| Parent range | Aleutian Range |
| Topo map | USGS Adak C-2 |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Pleistocene |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Volcanic arc/belt | Aleutian Arc |
Mount Adagdak is a fascinating volcano located on Adak Island in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. It's a type of volcano called a stratovolcano. This mountain is found at the very northern tip of Adak Island.
Mount Adagdak is about 1,900 kilometers (1,180 miles) away from Anchorage, a big city in Alaska. It sits just 1.4 kilometers (0.87 miles) south of a place called Cape Adagdak. The mountain was named after this cape in 1948 by the United States Geological Survey, a group that studies Earth's land and resources.
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Discover Mount Adagdak: An Alaskan Volcano
Mount Adagdak is a special kind of volcano. It formed a very long time ago, during a period called the Pleistocene epoch. This epoch lasted from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago.
What is a Stratovolcano?
A stratovolcano is a tall, cone-shaped volcano. It is built up over time by many layers of hardened lava, ash, and rocks. These volcanoes are known for their explosive eruptions. Mount Adagdak fits this description perfectly.
How Old is Mount Adagdak?
The rocks that make up Mount Adagdak tell a story of its past. Scientists have studied these rocks to learn about the volcano's history. They found that the volcano had at least three different times when it was active.
The youngest rocks on Mount Adagdak are very old! Scientists used a special method called argon dating to find their age. This method helps them figure out how long ago volcanic rocks formed. The youngest rocks are between 205,000 and 215,000 years old.
A Volcano's Future: Space Launch Ideas
Mount Adagdak might have a role in future space travel! A scientist named John Hunter has suggested using the western side of Mount Adagdak. He thinks it could be a good spot for a special "light-gas gun."
This gun would be used to launch small objects, called payloads, into space. These payloads could then be sent to places like the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS is a huge spacecraft where astronauts live and work in orbit around Earth. It's an interesting idea for this ancient volcano!
