| Azas Plateau | |
|---|---|
| East Tuva Plateau, Khamsara-Biykhem Plateau, Northeast Tuva Plateau | |
  Azas Plateau | |
| Highest point | |
| Coordinates | 52°25′59″N 98°18′11″E / 52.433°N 98.303°E[1] |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | Pliocene-Holocene |
| Mountain type | Volcanic field |
| Volcanic belt | Baikal Rift Zone |
Azas Plateau is a volcanic field in Russia. It is also known as East Tuva Plateau, Khamsara-Biykhem Plateau and Northeast Tuva Plateau.[1] It covers a surface area of 2,000 square kilometres (770 sq mi) west of Lake Baikal. Volcanic activity in the area also occurred at the Oka Plateau and the Jom-Bolok volcanic field.
The field is formed by a late Pliocene lava plateau. Several volcanoes formed under the influence of ice and are constructed by lava flows and hyaloclastite, these are so-called tuyas which form by eruptions of volcanoes into ice. Ice meltwater floods may have accompanied this activity. The youngest dated volcanic centre was active 48,000 ± 20,000 years ago, but some lava flows may be even younger.