The Recent Megaeruptions in Oregon; Newberry Volcano's Caldera Forming Eruptions

The Newberry Volcano in Oregon produced two of the state's largest explosive eruptions in the last 1 million years. These highly explosive VEI 6 eruptions led to the formation of its massive caldera. These powerful eruptions were so large that they distributed a layer of ash throughout all of Oregon and northern California.

Google Earth imagery used in this video: ©Google

Thumbnail Photo Credit: ELG21, Pixabay

0:00 Crater Lake Caldera
0:19 How a Caldera Forms
1:25 Newberry Volcano
1:47 VEI 6 Eruptions
2:36 Shield Growth
3:23 Likely Eruption Sequence

Sources:
[1] USGS, Newberry Volcano—Central Oregon’s Sleeping Giant
[2] S. Kuehn & others, Correlation of widespread Holocene and Pleistocene tephra layers from Newberry Volcano, Oregon
[3] Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, "Newberry", "Crater Lake"

Creative Commons Licenses Used in this video:

[GeologyHub]

Newberry is one of the most widely varied volcanoes in the lower 48 states. It has erupted basalt, basaltic-andesite, andesite, dacite, and rhyolite. It has lava domes, a caldera, cinder cones, spatter cones, fissure vents, and a giant lava shield. Just like Medicine Lake in California, I highly recommend visiting this volcano.

[StuffandThings_]

Newberry is definitely one of my favorite volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest, its geology, location, and vast array of volcanic features are just so enticing. Been there twice, once recently, and exploring the various volcanic features like lava casts, obsidian and rhyolite flows, cinder cones, a failed lava dam, the caldera and its lakes, and vistas of the entire Oregon Cascades, etc. just never gets old. Can't recommend the place enough for geology nerds, its so unbelievably underrated.

Interestingly, there's a volcano to the south called Yamsay mountain which seems to me to resemble what Newberry might have been like before its caldera forming eruption. There's practically no information on it unfortunately but it would be an interesting thing to look into. Looking at google maps terrain view, the roughly northwest-southeast trend of cinder cones on Newberry appears to be present through Yamsay mountain as well (I believe this is due to some basin and range rifting, as that area is on the margins of the basin and range province and is influenced by it). Very enigmatic and wonderful region, its nice to get a bit of variety other than typical subduction arc volcanoes of the High Cascades.

[stephengardiner]

Although I live in Ontario, Canada, I spent a couple of weeks in this area visiting the many volcanic features. Camping inside the caldera of sleeping volcano was quite the experience for a geographer/cartographer by trade and geologist/volcanologist by personal interest. That Obsidian flow gets mighty hot on a sunny summer's day! Another hobby of mine is brewpubs and microbreweries (and Bend is right handy!... cinder cones, obsidian flows, lava tubes, ... and great beers/ales... does not get much better than this!).

[RobinMarks]

Oh, I have a topic. Lava cactus. I was amazed they grow right on top of cooled lava fields. I'm interested in the mechanics of a volcano, but I'm also interested in how nature returns after an eruption. I was amazed to find out how quickly nature returned to Mount St Helens. I know it's really biology, but it's related to volcanoes and seldom mentioned in documentaries about eruptions. They just focus on the destruction and almost never mention the renewal of the ecology. Thank you.

[GeorgeDolbier]

THANK YOU! Just got back from a camping trip to Paulina lake. The newberry crater is a fantastic place to visit, natural water slides, amazing waterfalls, Paulna peak, Paulina lake is ringed with pumice instead of sand.

[namzarf]

Thanks for this. I live in Bend, just north of this sleeping giant. It's always made me nervous even knowing that it almost certainly won't awaken in my lifetime. There are hot springs around the perimeter of the lakes and huge potential for geothermal power generation, big enough to power our city---may be the first in the US. Perhaps you might also find the two nearby "holes in the ground" (the actual name for these craters) of some interest. They look like gigantic holes left over from a nuclear bomb test. And then there's the "crack in the ground" (yup, it's also the real name of that geological oddity) just to the east.
Fascinating stuff. Thanks again.

[benwinkel]

Interesting episode as usual. I also recommend viewers who want to get an impression of how it looks today, to watch Nick Zentners video where he visits the site of the Newberry caldera. Especially the obsidian lava flows are remarkable.

[carolynallisee]

It's good to see you're already making use of the footage you shot during your recent trip to Iceland!

[Gizathecat]

My husband and I have been there twice! We spent a couple of nights in a cabin at East Lake and explored the Big Obsidian Flow. I have a very tiny piece of the glassy rock. We then did a whirlwind drive around the Crater Lake rim. Both areas are very accessible.

[maritasue]

A guy I knew back in the 1970s told me a story about his great uncle (the family ranch was near Newberry). When the uncle was a teen he and his friends pulled a prank on the whole area. They spent weeks secretly hauling wood up to the top of Lava Butte and then, when they had enough for a really big blaze, they set it on fire. People were convinced the cinder cone was erupting!

[DaPikaGTM]

For those of you asking about that circular feature that is briefly seen at around 0:38, it's not volcanic nor is it an impact crater, it is literally just a couple of different features that superficially resemble a crater. Try typing out this phrase into your preferred search engine: All Calderas are not Calderas. That should bring you to an article about it.

[Savitor]

You can actually drive to the top of Paulina Peak, it's an amazing view of the entire caldera. Go on a clear day and you can see many of the Cascade volcano's from the viewpoint.

[BlackCeII]

Love your content! I would love to hear more about Mount Hood. Thank you

[Ksweetpea]

As someone who has spent the majority of her life living in very close proximity to Newberry and Medicine Lake, Newberry seems to be the more prevalent threat than South Sister, like we had drills for in school

[OkieSketcher]

I know Oklahoma has had some volcanos in years (many many) past. I’d be interested in your take on what took place. There is one mountain in southern Oklahoma’s Arbuckle Mountains, probably one of the oldest mountain chains in North America, where one can find Rhyolite. It lies just west of I-35 near Davis, OK. Surrounding it are many fossil containing limestones from the seas that once covered out state. Together this ought to make for an interesting video. Thanks. I really enjoy your programs.

[headcold]

Howdy my guy! Do you ever think about featuring the stratovolcano island, Big Ben, in a video?
Coordinates: 53.10420° S, 73.51750° E

It’s very striking and mysterious being so isolated in the ocean, over a dozen glaciers going right into the ocean, it’s a tall mountain… My dad was a geologist and he taught me a lot, but nothing of Big Ben. I wonder if it’s named such to suggest something specific. Lol.

[Dechral]

will never forget the day I spent there years ago. Would love to return some day. <3

[dannyleos]

😷🙋 THANK YOU 💕 😊 DEBRA. AND TO ALL THOSE 🦉😁 HELPED 😁🤓🥳😷

[pamelah]

Beem to Newberry twice and boated in both lakes. Beautiful area and no tourist crush.

[thelostone]

Video suggestion: You should do a video on how islands such as Pohnpei in Micronesia formed, how they have barrier reefs, and why there are “deep” water channels between the reef and island.