Canada contains 21 active volcanoes.
Of these, the most active volcano in the entire country is one which few have heard of.
Known as the Iskut Unuk River Cones, this volcanic complex has produced at least 8 eruptions
in the last 9,000 years.
It was responsible for the most recent eruption in all of Canada which occurred in 1904.
Two other recent eruptions occurred in 1800 and then again in 1590.
As such, this volcano will most likely be the site of the next eruption within Canada.
This video will discuss this unique volcanic complex, and mention what its future hazards
are.
The Iskut Unuk River Cones are located in an isolated portion of northwest British Columbia.
Specifically, it is 40 kilometers east of another regional volcano, and part of its
lava flows crossed the international border thus traveling into Alaska.
This volcanic complex consists of 9 distinct cinder cones and more than a dozen lava flows
which are spread out over an area of 1,450 square kilometers.
These vents are divided into two categories, those that erupted during the last ice age,
and those that did not.
I have marked those that did erupt within the last 12,000 years in orange, and the vents
which erupted in the last 500 years in red.
The Iskut Unuk River Cones began forming 70,000 years ago, when a volume of magma erupted
into a thick ice sheet which covered this section of Canada during the last ice age.
As a result, the lava flows could not travel very far, and acted much like lavas typically
seen at a submarine volcano.
Layers of black lava were deposited on top of each other which all contained a rounded
nodule like patterning called pillow basalt.
By the time this individual vent had stopped erupting, the Cinder Mountain tuya had been
constructed.
Intermittent eruptions continued throughout the remainder of the ice age, building two
additional vents.
As the vast ice sheet retreated, the Cone Glacier tuya produced a single lava flow which
traveled for 3 kilometers.
Between 12,000 and 9,000 years ago, two cinder cones erupted within the ravines of glacially
carved fjords.
These eruptions sent slow moving lava flows downstream, leading to the creation of a rugged
landscape.
The next phase of eruptions began constructing a tall cinder cone just to the north of the
large Iskut River.
At least 10 different eruptions originated from this cone from a period of 6830 BC to
620 BC.
Some of these lava flows traveled up to 20 kilometers away, forming several temporary
dams in this large river.
By the time this eruptive series had ended, a 330 meter tall and 2000 meter wide volcanic
cone remained.
Today, one of these lava flows is the site of a hydroelectric dam.
The next two eruptions originated at a cinder cone just north of the international border
with Alaska.
In 1590, it produced its first recorded eruption, sending lava flows 10 kilometers to the south.
These lava flows slowly advanced over the surrounding landscape, covering the existing
river and creating a series of rapids.
The next eruption occurred in 1800, and led to the creation of two small lakes called
the Lava Lakes.
The most recent eruption took place in 1904, which originated from a different cinder cone
several kilometers to the southeast.
Since then, no additional volcanic activity has occurred.
Today, we know that this volcanic complex is still active because of two different reasons.
First, the area contains numerous hot springs, where 40 to 50 degrees Celsius water drains
into various riverbeds which are much colder.
Second, just like Hoodoo Mountain to the west, this region has produced several earthquake
swarms, hinting at a magma chamber not far beneath the surface.
Due to this frequent eruptions from this volcanic complex, which occur about once every 1,000
years, it will erupt again.
The main threat from such an eruption would be long distance lava flows, which could travel
up to 20 kilometers away thus destroying any nearby structures and starting wildfires.
One structure in particularly high danger is the recently constructed hydroelectric
dam on the Iskut River.
Its proximity to a cinder cone which has produced numerous recent eruptions means that any future
eruption from this cinder cone will destroy this dam.
Using the US Geological Survey method of rating volcanoes, Iskut Unuk River Cones would be
classified as a low threat volcano.
I hope that you enjoyed this video!
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