Volcano · United States
Yellowstone
A giant caldera whose heat powers the park's geysers.
Status right now
No current reports
Yellowstone is not in the latest Smithsonian weekly report, the USGS list of volcanoes on alert or the GDACS volcano alerts. That usually means it is quiet, but not every change is reported straight away. For official alerts, follow the local volcano observatory.
Checked 4 Nov 2026, 23:40 UTC.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Region
- North America
- Type
- Caldera
- Summit
- 2,805 m (9,203 ft)
- Coordinates
- 44.430° N, 110.670° W
- Smithsonian number
- 325010
- USGS page
- usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone
What kind of volcano is it?
Yellowstone is a caldera. A caldera is a huge basin left when a volcano empties its magma chamber in a large eruption and the ground above collapses. Calderas can stay restless for centuries, with earthquakes, ground swelling and gas.
Eruption history
| Date | VEI | Deaths | Also |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 2016 | – | 1 | – |
1 significant eruption near Yellowstone in NOAA's Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database, which lists eruptions that caused deaths, damage or a tsunami, or were VEI 6 or larger. VEI is the Volcanic Explosivity Index, from 0 to 8.
Nearby volcanoes
- Mount RainierUnited States · 902 km
- Mount St. HelensUnited States · 920 km
- ColimaMexico · 2,847 km
- PopocatépetlMexico · 3,038 km
- SpurrUnited States (Alaska) · 3,278 km
- AugustineUnited States (Alaska) · 3,291 km
Not an official warning service. In an emergency, follow your local authorities.