Aso Caldera

Aso Caldera
Aso Volcano, Asosan
Aso Caldera
Highest point
PeakTakadake, 32°53′03″N 131°06′14″E / 32.88417°N 131.10389°E / 32.88417; 131.10389
Elevation1,592 m (5,223 ft)
Coordinates32°53′02″N 131°06′14″E / 32.884°N 131.104°E / 32.884; 131.104[1]
Dimensions
Length25 km (16 mi) NS
Width18 km (11 mi) EW
Naming
Native name阿蘇カルデラ (Japanese)
Geography
Aso Caldera is located in Japan
Aso Caldera
Aso Caldera
Kumamoto, Japan
CountryJapan
StateKumamoto Prefecture
RegionAso District, Aso City, Takamori
Geology
Rock agePleistocene onwards
Mountain type(s)Caldera
Somma volcano
Rock type(s)Dacite, Andesite[2]
Last eruption2021 CE[3]
Aerial view of Aso Caldera
Central cones of Aso volcano from their north east
Central cones of Aso volcano as seen from the north
Central cones of Aso volcano as seen from the south near Takamori
View of the Central cones of Aso volcano with Nakadake steaming

Aso caldera (also known as Asosan, the Aso Volcano or Mount Aso, although the later term usually is used related to its currently active vents) is a geographical feature of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It stretches 25 kilometers north to south and 18 kilometers east to west. The central core "Aso Gogaku" is the five major mountains in the area. Aso valley (Asodani) runs along the northern base of Mount Aso and Nango valley (Nangodani) along the south. According to research of caldera sediment, lakes used to exist in these valleys. The dried up lake areas have come to be called Old Aso Lake, Kugino Lake, and Aso Valley Lake. The Kikuchi, Shirakawa and Kurokawa rivers now drain the caldera.[4]

  1. ^ "Asosan |Global Volcanism Program | Smithsonian Institution". volcano.si.edu. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference GSJ was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference E2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Aso GeoPark Annex 2:Geological Heritage" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-09-25.