Aira Caldera

Aira Caldera
姶良カルデラ

Space radar image of Aira Caldera, with Sakurajima in the bay formed by the caldera.
Highest point
Coordinates 31°40′01″N 130°40′01″E / 31.667°N 130.667°E / 31.667; 130.667Coordinates: 31°40′01″N 130°40′01″E / 31.667°N 130.667°E / 31.667; 130.667 
Geography
Aira Caldera
Geology
Mountain type Caldera
Somma volcano
Last eruption c. 22,000 years ago

Aira Caldera (姶良カルデラ, Aira-Karudera) is a gigantic volcanic caldera in the south of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. The caldera was created by a massive eruption, approximately 22,000 years ago. Eruption of voluminous pyroclastic flows accompanied the formation of the 17 × 23 km-wide Aira caldera. Together with a large pumice fall, these amounted to approximately 400 km3 of tephra (VEI 7).

The major city of Kagoshima and the 16,000-year-old Sakurajima volcano lie within the caldera. Sakura-jima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes, is a post-caldera cone of the Aira caldera at the northern half of Kagoshima Bay.

Relief Map

References


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