Global Volcanism Program

Nemrut Dagi

Google Earth Placemark with Features

Cite Volcano Profile

Turkiye
Central Anatolian Volcanic Province
Composite | Stratovolcano
1650 CE

Country
Volcanic Region
Landform | Volc Type
Last Known Eruption

38.654°N
42.229°E
2,948 m
9,672 ft
213020

Latitude
Longitude
Summit
Elevation
Volcano
Number

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for Nemrut Dagi.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Nemrut Dagi.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Nemrut Dagi.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Synonyms

Nimrud Dagh | Mamrut Dagh

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Goltepe

Cone

Ikincilgol Tepe

Cone

Incekaya

Tuff cone

2046 m

Kayalitepe

Cone

Kelakirana Tepe

Cone

Kerkorumiksi Tepe

Cone

Mezarliktepe

Cone

Nemrutbasi
Nemrut Kale

Cone

2760 m

Sihmiran Tepe

Cone

Yumurtadag

Cone

2045 m

Yumurtatepe

Cone

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Nemrut Boynu

Fissure vent

Domes

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Germav Tepe

Dome

Kale Tepe

Dome

Kerkur
Kirkor Dagi

Dome

2612 m

Mazik Dagi

Dome

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

213020

1650 CE

2,948 m / 9,672 ft

38.654°N
42.229°E

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Composite

Volcano Types
Stratovolcano
Caldera
Lava dome(s)
Pyroclastic cone(s)

Rock Types

Major
Rhyolite
Trachyte / Trachydacite
Trachyandesite / Basaltic Trachyandesite
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Trachybasalt / Tephrite Basanite

Tectonic Setting

Intraplate
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

608
7,399
230,531
1,618,263

Geological Summary

Nemrut Dagi is the westernmost of a group of volcanoes near Lake Van in eastern Anatolia and the only one that has erupted in historical time. It contains a 9 x 5 km caldera partially filled on its western side by a caldera lake. Post-caldera volcanism, of basaltic to rhyolitic composition, initially occurred along the caldera rim and floor. Pyroclastic flows and the emission of glassy obsidian lava flows accompanied construction of lava domes within the caldera; later activity formed a series of cinder cones and lava domes erupted along N-S-trending fissures on the northern flank. The most recent activity has been concentrated along a NNW-trending fissure cutting the eastern caldera floor and extending beyond the north caldera rim; nearly two dozen cinder cones and lava domes were constructed on the caldera floor. Ash layers in Lake Van document numerous Holocene eruptions, and an eruption in 1441 CE from a N-flank fissure involved compositionally bimodal lava flows.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Aydar E, Gourgaud A, Ulusoy I, Digonnet F, Labazuy P, Sen E, Bayhan H, Kurttas T, Tolluoglu A U, 2003. Morphological analysis of active Mount Nemrut stratovolcano, eastern Turkey: evidences and possible impact areas of future eruption. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 123: 301-312.

Blumenthal M M, van der Kaaden G, Vlodavetz V I, 1964. Turkey & Caucasus. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World and Solfatara Fields, Rome: IAVCEI, 17: 1-23.

Feraud J, Ozkocak O, 1993. Les volcans actifs de Turquie: guide geologique et itineraires de'excursions. L'Assoc Volc Europeenne (LAVE), 2: 1-82.

Guner Y, 1984. Geology, geomorphology and evolution of the Nemrut volcano. Jeomorfoloji Dergisi, 12: 23-65 (in Turkish with English abs).

Haroutiunian R A, 2006. The historical volcanoes of Armenia and adjacent areas revisited. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 155: 334-337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2006.04.005

Karakhanian A, Djrbashian R, Trifonov V, Philip H, Arakelian S, Avagian A, 2002. Holocene-historical volcanism and active faults as natural risk factors for Armenia and adjacent countries. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 113: 319-344. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-0273(01)00264-5

Karakhanian A, Jrbashyan R, Trifonov V, Philip H, Arakelian S, Avagyan A, Baghdassaryan H, Davtian V, 2006. Historical volcanoes of Armenia and adjacent areas: what is revisited?. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 155: 338-345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2006.04.008

Ozpeker I, 1973. Volcanological evolution of Nemrut Dagi. 4th Symp Mech Sci Res Center Turkey, p 1-17 (in Turkish).

Tchalenko J S, 1977. A reconnaissance of the seismicity and tectonics at the northern border of the Arabian Plate (Lake Van region). Rev Geog Phys Geol Dynam, 19: 189-208.

Ulusoy I, Cubukcu E, Aydar E, Labazuy P, Ersoy O, Sen E, Gourgaud A, 2012. Volcanological evolution and caldera forming eruptions of Mt. Nemrut (Eastern Turkey). J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 245: 21-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2012.06.031

Ulusoy I, Labazuy P, Aydar E, Ersoy O, Cubukcu E, 2008. Structure of the Nemrut caldera (Eastern Anatolia, Turkey) and associated hydrothermal fluid circulation. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 174: 269-283.

Yilmaz Y, Guner Y, Saroglu F, 1998. Geology of the Quaternary volcanic centers of the east Anatolia. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 85: 173-210.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 26 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

[ 1692 Apr 13 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1692 Apr 13 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Ash	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Earthquakes (undefined)

1650 Oct 27 Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

East flank (Lake Van)

1650 Oct 27 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at East flank (Lake Van)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Blocks
- - - -	- - - -	Pumice
- - - -	- - - -	Audible Sounds

1597 (in or before) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1597 (in or before) - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava fountains
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow

1441 Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

North flank (Nemrut Boynu)

1441 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at North flank (Nemrut Boynu)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Blocks

1402 (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1402 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

1111 Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

East flank (Lake Van)

1111 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at East flank (Lake Van)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Fissure
- - - -	- - - -	Audible Sounds
- - - -	- - - -	Tsunami

0531 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

0531 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

0657 BCE ± 25 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

0657 BCE ± 25 years - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

0787 BCE ± 25 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

0787 BCE ± 25 years - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

1396 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1396 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

1662 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1662 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

4055 BCE ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

4055 BCE ± 50 years - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

4321 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

4321 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

4615 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

4615 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

4849 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

4849 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

4938 BCE ± 75 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

4938 BCE ± 75 years - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

5085 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

5085 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

5152 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

5152 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

5242 BCE ± 75 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

5242 BCE ± 75 years - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

5320 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

5320 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

5745 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

5745 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

6213 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

6213 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

6471 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

6471 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

7087 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

7087 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

7579 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

7579 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

7769 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

7769 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

9950 BCE ± 150 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

9950 BCE ± 150 years - Unknown

Evidence from Sidereal: Varve Count

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Nemrut Dagi.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Nemrut Dagi.

Photo Gallery

The prominent caldera in the center of the photo is Nemrut Dagi, the westernmost of a group of volcanoes near Lake Van. Nemrut Dagi lies north of the western part of Lake Van and is the only one of the group that has erupted in historical time. The 5 x 9 km caldera is partially filled by a lake, which appears as the smooth snow-covered right side of the caldera floor in this Space Shuttle photo with north to the bottom. Ash layers in Lake Van document numerous Holocene eruptions, the last of which took place in 1441 CE.

NASA Space Shuttle image STS45-80-08, 1992 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).

The summit of Nemrut Dagi is truncated by a 5 x 9 km caldera near Lake Van in eastern Turkey. A lake that partially fills the western side of the caldera is constrained by post-caldera eruptions that produced glassy obsidian lava flows from domes on the eastern caldera floor. A series of scoria cones and lava domes were erupted along N-S-trending fissures on the northern flank. Ash layers in Lake Van document numerous Holocene eruptions from Nemrut Dagi.

NASA International Space Station image ISS001-E-6354, 2001 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).

The eastern half of the 8.5 × 7 km Nemrut Dagi summit caldera is partially filled with lava flows, phreatomagmatic eruption deposits, and lava domes, and the western half is filled with a lake that is seen in this June 2019 Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic (N is at the top). The surrounding area contains ignimbrite deposits, tephra, lava domes, and lava flows.

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).

GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Nemrut Dagi in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

Volcanic Hazard Maps

The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter.

IRIS seismic stations/networks

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Nemrut Dagi. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations

Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Nemrut Dagi. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player.

DECADE Data

The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO₂ to the atmosphere, but installing CO₂ monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere.

Large Eruptions of Nemrut Dagi

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).