Anatahan
Encyclopedia
Anatahan is one of the most active volcano
es of the Northern Mariana Islands
. The island of Anatahan is 9 kilometers (6 mi) long and has a land area of 31.21 km² (12.1 sq mi). Formerly inhabited, it now has no population because of the always-present danger of volcanic eruptions
. Sparseness of vegetation in the most recent lava flows on Anatahan indicated that they were of Holocene
age, but the first historical eruption of Anatahan did not occur until May 2003, when a large explosive eruption took place forming a new crater inside the eastern caldera
. The most recent eruption was in 2007, and lasted till 2008.
Anatahan is well-known due to a group of Japan
ese holdouts that remained long after the end of World War II
, only surrendering in 1951.
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
es of the Northern Mariana Islands
Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , is a commonwealth in political union with the United States, occupying a strategic region of the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines...
. The island of Anatahan is 9 kilometers (6 mi) long and has a land area of 31.21 km² (12.1 sq mi). Formerly inhabited, it now has no population because of the always-present danger of volcanic eruptions
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
. Sparseness of vegetation in the most recent lava flows on Anatahan indicated that they were of Holocene
Holocene
The Holocene is a geological epoch which began at the end of the Pleistocene and continues to the present. The Holocene is part of the Quaternary period. Its name comes from the Greek words and , meaning "entirely recent"...
age, but the first historical eruption of Anatahan did not occur until May 2003, when a large explosive eruption took place forming a new crater inside the eastern caldera
Caldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
. The most recent eruption was in 2007, and lasted till 2008.
Anatahan is well-known due to a group of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese holdouts that remained long after the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, only surrendering in 1951.