Wapi Lava Field | U.S. Geological Survey
Source: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/wapi-lava-field
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:13
Wapi Lava Field | U.S. Geological Survey
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Wapi Lava Field
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Wapi Lava Field
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The Wapi lava field, southeast of the Craters of the Moon lava field, covers about 325 km2 (125 mi2), and consists of a low shield volcano formed during an eruption about 2,270 years ago that produced about 6 km3 (1.4 mi3) of fluid pahoehoe lava flows.
Quick Facts
Location:
Idaho, Snake River Plain
Latitude:
42.88° N
Longitude:
113.22° W
Elevation:
1,604 (m) 5,262 (f)
Volcano type:
Shield volcano
Composition:
Basalt
Most recent eruption:
2,270 years ago
Threat Potential:
Low/Very Low*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Summary
Eruptions of the Wapi lava field occurred at approximately the same time as the last eruptive period of the
Craters of the Moon lava field
. The vent area of the Wapi field lies along the Great Rift volcanic rift zone and consists of five major, and a half dozen minor, vents covering an area of 0.5 km
2
(0.2 mi
2
). The largest of the vents contains several pit craters that truncate lava lakes that filled the crater. Pillar Butte, a mass of layered lava flows and agglutinates, forms the high point of the lava shield. The Split Butte maar to the west is partially surrounded by flows of the Wapi lava field.
The small King's Bowl lava field immediately to the north of Wapi was also formed at about the same time (2,222 years ago) along a central eruptive fissure flanked by two parallel non-eruptive fissures. This eruption produced a phreatic explosion that created Kings Bowl, an 80-m-long, 30-m-deep (260-by-100 ft) explosion crater.
There is a low probability of future eruptions from the precise area enclosed by the Wapi lava field. Since it was a one-time (monogenetic) basaltic shield eruption, eruptions will probably not recur at the same site. An eruption hazard exists along the entire Great Rift, particularly in its northern reaches in the
Craters of the Moon lava field
. In the event of a future eruption at the south end of the rift near the Wapi field, agricultural infrastructure is at risk, but very little, if any, housing would be impacted.
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
January 1, 1986
Contrasting magma types and steady-state, volume-predictable, basaltic volcanism along the Great Rift, Idaho
Contrasting magma types and steady-state, volume-predictable, basaltic volcanism along the Great Rift, Idaho
The Great Rift is an 85-km-long, 2- to 8-km-wide volcanic rift zone in the Snake River Plain, Idaho. Three latest Pleistocene to Holocene basaltic lava fields, Craters of the Moon, Kings Bowl, and Wapi, are located along the Great Rift. The Craters of the Moon lava field is a composite of more than 60 lava flows, 25 cinder cones, and at least 8 eruptive fissure systems. It covers 1,600...
Authors
M. A. Kuntz, D.E. Champion, E.C. Spiker, R.H. Lefebvre
By
Craters of the Moon Volcanic Field
,
Wapi Lava Field
Quick Facts
Location:
Idaho, Snake River Plain
Latitude:
42.88° N
Longitude:
113.22° W
Elevation:
1,604 (m) 5,262 (f)
Volcano type:
Shield volcano
Composition:
Basalt
Most recent eruption:
2,270 years ago
Threat Potential:
Low/Very Low*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Volcanoes Hazards Program Links
Assess
Prepare
Forecast
Activity
Products
Observatories
About
Was this page helpful?
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.
Wapi Lava Field
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
Wapi Lava Field
Home
Data
Maps
Publications
Connect
The Wapi lava field, southeast of the Craters of the Moon lava field, covers about 325 km2 (125 mi2), and consists of a low shield volcano formed during an eruption about 2,270 years ago that produced about 6 km3 (1.4 mi3) of fluid pahoehoe lava flows.
Quick Facts
Location:
Idaho, Snake River Plain
Latitude:
42.88° N
Longitude:
113.22° W
Elevation:
1,604 (m) 5,262 (f)
Volcano type:
Shield volcano
Composition:
Basalt
Most recent eruption:
2,270 years ago
Threat Potential:
Low/Very Low*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Summary
Eruptions of the Wapi lava field occurred at approximately the same time as the last eruptive period of the
Craters of the Moon lava field
. The vent area of the Wapi field lies along the Great Rift volcanic rift zone and consists of five major, and a half dozen minor, vents covering an area of 0.5 km
2
(0.2 mi
2
). The largest of the vents contains several pit craters that truncate lava lakes that filled the crater. Pillar Butte, a mass of layered lava flows and agglutinates, forms the high point of the lava shield. The Split Butte maar to the west is partially surrounded by flows of the Wapi lava field.
The small King's Bowl lava field immediately to the north of Wapi was also formed at about the same time (2,222 years ago) along a central eruptive fissure flanked by two parallel non-eruptive fissures. This eruption produced a phreatic explosion that created Kings Bowl, an 80-m-long, 30-m-deep (260-by-100 ft) explosion crater.
There is a low probability of future eruptions from the precise area enclosed by the Wapi lava field. Since it was a one-time (monogenetic) basaltic shield eruption, eruptions will probably not recur at the same site. An eruption hazard exists along the entire Great Rift, particularly in its northern reaches in the
Craters of the Moon lava field
. In the event of a future eruption at the south end of the rift near the Wapi field, agricultural infrastructure is at risk, but very little, if any, housing would be impacted.
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
January 1, 1986
Contrasting magma types and steady-state, volume-predictable, basaltic volcanism along the Great Rift, Idaho
Contrasting magma types and steady-state, volume-predictable, basaltic volcanism along the Great Rift, Idaho
The Great Rift is an 85-km-long, 2- to 8-km-wide volcanic rift zone in the Snake River Plain, Idaho. Three latest Pleistocene to Holocene basaltic lava fields, Craters of the Moon, Kings Bowl, and Wapi, are located along the Great Rift. The Craters of the Moon lava field is a composite of more than 60 lava flows, 25 cinder cones, and at least 8 eruptive fissure systems. It covers 1,600...
Authors
M. A. Kuntz, D.E. Champion, E.C. Spiker, R.H. Lefebvre
By
Craters of the Moon Volcanic Field
,
Wapi Lava Field
Quick Facts
Location:
Idaho, Snake River Plain
Latitude:
42.88° N
Longitude:
113.22° W
Elevation:
1,604 (m) 5,262 (f)
Volcano type:
Shield volcano
Composition:
Basalt
Most recent eruption:
2,270 years ago
Threat Potential:
Low/Very Low*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Volcanoes Hazards Program Links
Assess
Prepare
Forecast
Activity
Products
Observatories
About
Was this page helpful?