Kutcharo Volcano
Hokkaido (Japan), 43.61°N / 144.44°E
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Kutcharo (also spelled Kussharo or Kuccharo) is the largest of a cluster of calderas in NE Hokkaidoo, Japan, and contains Atosanupuri (アトサヌプリ) volcano.
The caldera formed during a series of major explosive eruptions between 340,000 and 30,000 years ago. The crescent-shaped Lake Kutcharo (Kutcharo-ko) covers most of the western half of the caldera.
There are no known historic eruptions, but the volcano has been frequently active in the past 10,000 years and constructed several lava domes and the Atosanupuri stratovolcano near the center of the caldera. Naka-jima is a less-than-10,000 years old dacitic-to-rhyolitic lava-dome forming an island in the lake.
Intense fumarolic activity occurs on and around Atosanupuri volcano and along the shores of Lake Kutcharo (Kutcharo-ko).
Kutcharo volcano eruptions: 1320 ± 300 years
Latest nearby earthquakes
Time | Mag. / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
Apr 21, 08:37 am (GMT +9) | 2.6 114 km | 23 km (14 mi) to the S | Japan: TESHIKAGA REGION | Info |
Background
Lake Kutcharo is one of the largest and northernmost freshwater bodies along the Sea of Okhotsk and provides an important refuge for many migrating birds. It supports staging flocks of Bewick's Swan (16,000-22,000) and duck species (50,000-60,000) including Wigeon and Northern Pintail.(Source: ANATIDAE SITE NETWORK IN THE EAST ASIAN FLYWAY, July 2004 - www.jawgp.org/anet/anslist.pdf)