Mono Lake Volcanic Field | U.S. Geological Survey
Official websites use .gov
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
lock (
or
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Find U.S. Volcano
Filters
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
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
Map Legend
Map Legend
Results
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Science
Multimedia
Publications
Connect
The Mono Lake volcanic field, east of Yosemite National Park and north of the Mono Craters, consists of vents within Mono Lake and on its north shore. The most recent eruptive activity in the Long Valley to Mono Lake region took place about 300 years ago, when lake-bottom sediments forming much of Paoha Island were uplifted by intrusion of a rhyolitic cryptodome.
Quick Facts
Location:
California, Mono County
Latitude:
38° N
Longitude:
119.03° W
Elevation:
2,121 (m) 6,959 (f)
Volcano type:
volcanic field
Composition:
basalt to rhyolite
Most recent eruption:
300 years ago
Nearby towns:
Lee Vining
Threat Potential:
Moderate*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Summary
The most topographically prominent feature of Mono Lake volcanic field is Black Point, which rises above the northwest shore. It was formed as a sublacustral (below lake level) basaltic cone about 13,300 years ago when the water level at Mono Lake was higher. Lava domes and flows from Negit and parts of Paoha islands within Mono Lake. The most recent eruptive activity in the Long Valley to Mono Lake region took place about 300 years ago when lake-bottom sediments forming much of Paoha Island were uplifted by the intrusion of a rhyolitic crypto dome. Spectacular tufa towers line the shores of Mono Lake.
Mythology and hydrology at Paoha Island, Mono Lake Volcanic Field
August 28, 2024
Mythology and hydrology at Paoha Island, Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Having a (volcanic) field day in California
May 31, 2023
Having a (volcanic) field day in California
New survey plumbs Mono Lake's depths for hydrothermal heat
April 20, 2021
New survey plumbs Mono Lake's depths for hydrothermal heat
View All
February 25, 2019
California’s exposure to volcanic hazards
California’s exposure to volcanic hazards
The potential for damaging earthquakes, landslides, floods, tsunamis, and wildfires is widely recognized in California. The same cannot be said for volcanic eruptions, despite the fact that they occur in the state about as frequently as the largest earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault. At least ten eruptions have taken place in the past 1,000 years, and future volcanic eruptions are...
Authors
Margaret Mangan, Jessica Ball, Nathan Wood, Jamie L. Jones, Jeff Peters, Nina Abdollahian, Laura Dinitz, Sharon Blankenheim, Johanna Fenton, Cynthia Pridmore
By
Volcano Hazards Program
Volcano Science Center
California Volcano Observatory
Clear Lake Volcanic Field
Coso Volcanic Field
Lassen Volcanic Center
Long Valley Caldera
Mammoth Mountain
Medicine Lake
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Mono-Inyo Craters
Mount Shasta
Salton Buttes
Soda Lakes
Ubehebe Craters
October 22, 2018
2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment
2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment
When erupting, all volcanoes pose a degree of risk to people and infrastructure, however, the risks are not equivalent from one volcano to another because of differences in eruptive style and geographic location. Assessing the relative threats posed by U.S. volcanoes identifies which volcanoes warrant the greatest risk-mitigation efforts by the U.S. Geological Survey and its partners...
Authors
John W. Ewert, Angela K. Diefenbach, David W. Ramsey
By
Volcano Hazards Program
Volcano Science Center
Agrigan
Ahyi Seamount
Alamagan
Anatahan
Asuncion
Belknap
Black Butte Crater Lava Field
Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
Blue Lake Crater
Carrizozo Lava Flow
Cascade Range Weekly Update
Cinnamon Butte
Clear Lake Volcanic Field
Coso Volcanic Field
Crater Lake
Craters of the Moon Volcanic Field
Daikoku Seamount
Davis Lake Volcanic Field
Devils Garden Lava Field
Diamond Craters Volcanic Field
Dotsero Volcanic Center
East Diamante
Esmeralda Bank
Farallon de Pajaros
Fukujin Seamount
Glacier Peak
Guguan
Haleakalā
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
Hualālai
Indian Heaven Volcanic Field
Jordan Craters Volcanic Field
Kama‘ehuakanaloa
Kasuga 2
Kīlauea
Lassen Volcanic Center
Long Valley Caldera
Mammoth Mountain
Markagunt Plateau Volcanic Field
Maug Islands
Mauna Kea
Mauna Loa
Medicine Lake
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Mono-Inyo Craters
Mount Adams
Mount Bachelor
Mount Baker
Mount Hood
Mount Jefferson
Mount Rainier
Mount Shasta
Mount St. Helens
Newberry
Ofu-Olosega
Pagan
Red Hill-Quemado Volcanic Field
Ruby
Salton Buttes
San Francisco Volcanic Field
Sand Mountain Volcanic Field
Sarigan
Soda Lakes
South Sarigan Seamount
Supply Reef
Ta'u Island
Three Sisters
Tutuila Island
Ubehebe Craters
Uinkaret Volcanic Field
Valles Caldera
Wapi Lava Field
Weekly Update
West Crater Volcanic Field
Yellowstone
Zealandia Bank
Zuni-Bandera Volcanic Field
December 10, 2014
The California Volcano Observatory: Monitoring the state's restless volcanoes
The California Volcano Observatory: Monitoring the state's restless volcanoes
Volcanic eruptions happen in the State of California about as frequently as the largest earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault Zone. At least 10 eruptions have taken place in California in the past 1,000 years—most recently at Lassen Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park (1914 to 1917) in the northern part of the State—and future volcanic eruptions are inevitable. The U.S. Geological...
Authors
Wendy K. Stovall, Mae Marcaida, Margaret T. Mangan
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area
Volcano Hazards Program
Volcano Science Center
Clear Lake Volcanic Field
Coso Volcanic Field
Lassen Volcanic Center
Long Valley Caldera
Mammoth Mountain
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Mono-Inyo Craters
Mount Shasta
Salton Buttes
Soda Lakes
Ubehebe Craters
View All
November 6, 2023
Paoha and Negit Islands, Mono Lake, California
The islands of Mono Lake were built by recent eruptions of lava and cinder and by uplift of the shallow lake bottom caused by the rise of magma beneath the lake. The two islands are less than about 2,000 years old, and the lava flows on the north flank of Paoha Island are only about 250 years old.
By
California Volcano Observatory
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Paoha and Negit Islands, Mono Lake, California
November 6, 2023
Paoha and Negit Islands, Mono Lake, California
The islands of Mono Lake were built by recent eruptions of lava and cinder and by uplift of the shallow lake bottom caused by the rise of magma beneath the lake. The two islands are less than about 2,000 years old, and the lava flows on the north flank of Paoha Island are only about 250 years old.
November 6, 2023
Seismic monitoring at Mono Lake Volcanic Field
The seismometers located near the Mono Lake volcanic field are part of the greater Long Valley Caldera seismic network array.
By
California Volcano Observatory
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Seismic monitoring at Mono Lake Volcanic Field
November 6, 2023
Seismic monitoring at Mono Lake Volcanic Field
The seismometers located near the Mono Lake volcanic field are part of the greater Long Valley Caldera seismic network array.
November 6, 2023
Geology and History of Mono Lake Volcanic Field
The Mono Lake volcanic field east of Yosemite National Park and north of the Mono Craters consists of vents within Mono Lake and on its north shore.
By
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Geology and History of Mono Lake Volcanic Field
November 6, 2023
Geology and History of Mono Lake Volcanic Field
The Mono Lake volcanic field east of Yosemite National Park and north of the Mono Craters consists of vents within Mono Lake and on its north shore.
View All
Quick Facts
Location:
California, Mono County
Latitude:
38° N
Longitude:
119.03° W
Elevation:
2,121 (m) 6,959 (f)
Volcano type:
volcanic field
Composition:
basalt to rhyolite
Most recent eruption:
300 years ago
Nearby towns:
Lee Vining
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?