The 10-km-wide Aniakchak caldera is one of the most dramatic volcanoes on the Alaska Peninsula. It was formed about 3400 years ago during an eruption in which voluminous pyroclastic flows reached the Bering Sea, 80 km away. This view from the NE shows the largest post-caldera volcano, Vent Mountain (upper right) and Surprise Lake (lower right), which drains through The Gates (left center), a steep-walled notch in the 1-km-high eastern caldera rim. The only historical eruption of Aniakchak took place in 1931.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1978.

Copyrighted image used with permission. All Rights Reserved. Contact photographer for any usage requests.

Aniakchak