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U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2011–3145

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY and the U.S. FOREST SERVICE—OUR VOLCANIC PUBLIC LANDS

In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service

Newberry Volcano—Central Oregon’s Sleeping Giant

By Julie M. Donnelly-Nolan, Wendy K. Stovall, David W. Ramsey, John W. Ewert, and Robert A. Jensen

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (2.2 MB)Summary

Hidden in plain sight, Oregon’s massive Newberry Volcano is the largest volcano in the Cascades volcanic arc and covers an area the size of Rhode Island. Unlike familiar cone-shaped Cascades volcanoes, Newberry was built into the shape of a broad shield by repeated eruptions over 400,000 years. About 75,000 years ago a major explosion and collapse event created a large volcanic depression (caldera) at its summit. Newberry last erupted about 1,300 years ago, and present-day hot springs and geologically young lava flows indicate that it could reawaken at any time. Because of its proximity to nearby communities, frequency and size of past eruptions, and geologic youthfulness, U.S. Geological Survey scientists are working to better understand volcanic activity at Newberry and closely monitor the volcano for signs of unrest.

Last modified February 28, 2012
First posted February 6, 2012

  • This report is also available in print from:

    USGS Information Services, Box 25286,
    Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225
    telephone: 888 ASK-USGS; e-mail: infoservices@usgs.gov

For additional information:
Contact CVO
Volcano Science Center, Cascades Volcano Observatory
U.S. Geological Survey
1300 SE Cardinal Court, Building 10, Suite 100
Vancouver, WA 98683-9589
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/

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Suggested citation:

Donnelly-Nolan, J.M., Stovall, W.K., Ramsey, D.W., Ewert, J.W., and Jensen, R.A., 2011, Newberry Volcano—central Oregon’s sleeping giant: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2011–3145, 6 p., available at https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2011/3145/.




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