Volcano Live

Kurile Islands, Russia

50.85 N, 155.55 E
summit elevation 2339 m
stratovolcano

Alaid is the tallest and northernmost volcano in the Kurile Islands. The volcano contains 1.5-km-wide summit crater breached to the south. Large explosive eruptions occurred in 1790 and 1981.

1981 Eruption of Alaid Volcano
The eruption of Alaid volcano in 1981 was one of the largest in the Kurile Islands in historical times. The eruption began at midday on 27th April 1981. On 29th April an ash plume reached 1900 km from the volcano. Ashfall was measured 1,000 km from the volcano, over an area of 150,000 sq km. Ash emissions possibly reached 12.8 km altitude, just below the tropopause.

In August 1997 a hotspot was visible on satellite images of the volcano indicating eruptive activity.