Anatahan

Anatahan
US Geological Survey photo of Anatahan
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates16°21′5″N 145°40′43″E / 16.35139°N 145.67861°E / 16.35139; 145.67861
ArchipelagoNorthern Mariana Islands
Area33.91 km2 (13.09 sq mi)[1]
Length9 km (5.6 mi)
Width4 km (2.5 mi)
Highest elevation790 m (2590 ft)
Administration
United States
CommonwealthNorthern Mariana Islands
Demographics
Population- uninhabited - (2010)

Anatahan is a volcanic island in the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and has one of the most active volcanoes of the archipelago. Although formerly inhabited, the island is currently uninhabited due to the constant danger of volcanic eruptions. Anatahan is located 60 kilometers (32 nmi) northwest of Farallon de Medinilla and 120 km (65 nmi) north of Saipan. It last erupted between 2007 and 2008, and also erupted in 2003.

Anatahan is the site of a curious WW2 tale in which about 30 Japanese soldiers stayed here, holding out until 1951 before surrendering; during that time they lived with a local woman until 1950. Afterwards, the island was inhabited until 1990 when an earthquake struck leading to its evacuation.

Anatahan
Ash from Anatahan, June 2005
Highest point
Elevation790 m (2,590 ft)[2][3]
ListingVolcanoes of the Northern Mariana Islands
Coordinates16°21′N 145°40′E / 16.35°N 145.67°E / 16.35; 145.67[2]
Geography
Map
LocationNorthern Mariana Islands, Pacific Ocean
Geology
Mountain typeStratovolcano
Last eruption2007 – 2008
  1. ^ "9 ANATAHAN" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 36. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Anatahan". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  3. ^ "Topographic map of Anatahan". opentopomap.org. Retrieved 2023-06-10.