Soda Lakes | U.S. Geological Survey
Source: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/soda-lakes
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:16
Soda Lakes | U.S. Geological Survey
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Soda Lake and Little Soda Lake are two maars located on the southwestern floor of the Carson Sink northwest of Fallon, Nevada. The maars were formed as basalt erupted explosively through the water table or shallow lakes.
Quick Facts
Location:
Nevada, Churchill County
Latitude:
39.52° N
Longitude:
118.88° W
Elevation:
1,251 (m) 4,104 (f)
Volcano type:
maars
Composition:
basalt
Most recent eruption:
Holocene
Nearby towns:
Fallon
Threat Potential:
Moderate*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Summary
The larger maar, Soda Lake, is oblong, about 1.1 x 1.5 km (0.7 to 0.9 mi), elongated northeast to southwest. The 300 m (about 1000 ft) wide Little Soda Lake lies 250 m (820 ft) south of Soda Lake. The maars are the site of a geothermal prospect that may have discharged hot springs through the end of the 19th century. Although undated by absolute methods, they postdate the Pleistocene glacial Lake Lahontan and are estimated to be younger than 6 thousand years old.
At the end of the 19th century, geologist Israel Russell investigated the geologic history of Lake Lahontan and visited Soda Lakes. At that time the water level was significantly lower, so he could see more of the crater walls and explosion strata. He noted bomb sags within the deposits, which indicate that the damp earlier-erupted strata could deform plastically under the weight of larger explosively erupted products (projectiles). Diversion of Sierran stream water to the Carson Sink, as part of the Newlands Irrigation Project, which began in 1903, raised groundwater levels, corresponding to an approximately 20-m (60-ft) rise in the lake level.
Quick Facts
Location:
Nevada, Churchill County
Latitude:
39.52° N
Longitude:
118.88° W
Elevation:
1,251 (m) 4,104 (f)
Volcano type:
maars
Composition:
basalt
Most recent eruption:
Holocene
Nearby towns:
Fallon
Threat Potential:
Moderate*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Volcanoes Hazards Program Links
Assess
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Forecast
Activity
Products
Observatories
About
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Skip to main content
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock (
)
or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Soda Lakes
Find U.S. Volcano
Filters
Learn More
The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows.
Get Help
Earthquake Plots
To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over.
Map Layers
Earthquake Colors
Earthquake Depth Units
Earthquake Time Units
Results
Filters
Learn More
The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows.
Get Help
Earthquake Plots
To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over.
Settings
Map Layers
Earthquake Colors
Earthquake Depth Units
Earthquake Time Units
x
Map Legend
x
Map Legend
Results
Soda Lakes
Home
Publications
Connect
Soda Lake and Little Soda Lake are two maars located on the southwestern floor of the Carson Sink northwest of Fallon, Nevada. The maars were formed as basalt erupted explosively through the water table or shallow lakes.
Quick Facts
Location:
Nevada, Churchill County
Latitude:
39.52° N
Longitude:
118.88° W
Elevation:
1,251 (m) 4,104 (f)
Volcano type:
maars
Composition:
basalt
Most recent eruption:
Holocene
Nearby towns:
Fallon
Threat Potential:
Moderate*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Summary
The larger maar, Soda Lake, is oblong, about 1.1 x 1.5 km (0.7 to 0.9 mi), elongated northeast to southwest. The 300 m (about 1000 ft) wide Little Soda Lake lies 250 m (820 ft) south of Soda Lake. The maars are the site of a geothermal prospect that may have discharged hot springs through the end of the 19th century. Although undated by absolute methods, they postdate the Pleistocene glacial Lake Lahontan and are estimated to be younger than 6 thousand years old.
At the end of the 19th century, geologist Israel Russell investigated the geologic history of Lake Lahontan and visited Soda Lakes. At that time the water level was significantly lower, so he could see more of the crater walls and explosion strata. He noted bomb sags within the deposits, which indicate that the damp earlier-erupted strata could deform plastically under the weight of larger explosively erupted products (projectiles). Diversion of Sierran stream water to the Carson Sink, as part of the Newlands Irrigation Project, which began in 1903, raised groundwater levels, corresponding to an approximately 20-m (60-ft) rise in the lake level.
Quick Facts
Location:
Nevada, Churchill County
Latitude:
39.52° N
Longitude:
118.88° W
Elevation:
1,251 (m) 4,104 (f)
Volcano type:
maars
Composition:
basalt
Most recent eruption:
Holocene
Nearby towns:
Fallon
Threat Potential:
Moderate*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Volcanoes Hazards Program Links
Assess
Prepare
Forecast
Activity
Products
Observatories
About
Was this page helpful?