| Volcanic Seven Summits List |
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| Volcanic Seven Summits   | 
| Page Type: List Location: United States/Argentina/Iran/Mexico/Russia/Tanzania, Other | Page By: Corax Created/Edited: Jan 12, 2006 / Feb 24, 2009 Object ID: 171202 Hits: 19199 Loading... Page Score: 90.13% - 48 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
The "other" seven summitsIt's becoming more and more popular to tick off the highest mountains on each continent, more well known as the Seven Summits. There's another seven summits - the volcanic equivalents (V7S). It hasn't become as popular as the normal Seven Summits and an educated guess is it'll never be. By comparison it's an easier task to bag the volcanoes as you neither have to deal with an 8000m peak (Everest), nor pay extortionate fees for climbing Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia. On the other hand you still have to have the cash to go to Antarctica and of course visit all the planet's continents.
Many climbers like volcanoes and some of the arguments for this preference includes:
The prominence. A volcano is often a lone mountain not attached to a range.
They're beautiful to look at. Perfect cones with a picturesque appearance.
Some volcanoes has mesmerizing craters, which makes the summit even more interesting.
There are very few technically difficult volcanoes and therefore they are usually a reasonable object for all sorts of climbers and trekkers.
Remarks about classification etc.  Volcano climbing at first light
I could never imagine this page would be so difficult to set up. All lists of the V7S I've seen have been in perfect agreement with each other. It now seems like they may be wrong in not only one but two places. I.e. I may have to challenge the official V7S lists.
I have choosen to go 100% geo-politically on this page. Some comments and explanations about the mountain classification on this page.
Europe
Kazbek and Aragats are situated in Georgia respectively Armenia. Both countries belong to Europe.
The Canarian Islands belong to Spain, therefore Teide is included.
There may be some higher volcanoes in the Caucasus, which in that case would qualify for the top five list. There are no doubt or discussion about the status of number one; Elbrus, is the highest volcano in Europe.
Asia
Turkey and Russia are both politically split between two continents. Ararat belongs to the Asian part of Turkey. Kamchatka to the Russian equivalent, that's why K. Sopka and Kamen are to be found in the Asia list.
I have emailed John Seach about the volcanoes in Kunlun, China. His answer was:
Kunlun in Tibet is the highest volcano in Asia. It is higher than Damavand, and has even erupted more recently.
The altitude is confirmed to be about 5810m, which is about 200 meters higher than Damavand.
Oceania
I disagree with including Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa in the Oceanian category. Hawaii is a part of the USA, which in turn is a part of North America. I have choosen to leave Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa in the list, as this seems to be general consensus.
I have not been able to dig up much about Giluwe, the highest volcano in Oceania. Therefore Mauna Kea will still be attached to the V7S list, until someone submits Giluwe.
General info about the page
I have choosen to include a list of the highest five volcanoes on every continent.
Why?
Because there isn't any source on Summitpost that specifically list volcanoes and I thought this may be of interest.
If you have any info about high volcanoes on Papua New Guinea and/or in the Kunlun and Tian Shan, please let me know.South America
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| Ojos del Salado 6887m Argentina/Chile
An active stratovolcano which sometimes shows activity (fumaroles). Also there was an unconfirmed minor gas and ash eruption in 1993. Last known eruption 700 AD ±300 years.
First Ascent: Justyn Wojsznis and Jan Szczepanski 1937.
Basic info:
Ojos del Salado is the highest volcano on earth. It's located right at the Argentinian/Chilean border and it can be climbed from both countries. The approach is longer and much harder on the Argentinian side, but you don't have to deal with some semi-technical climbing, which can be a problem for unexperienced climbers trying out the Chilean option. There's no peak fee on the Argentinian side, but there's on the Chilean.
More information - Go to Ojos del Salado's main page! | A detailed map of Ojos del Salado.
The five highest volcanoes in South America.
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Asia| | | Vulkan/Ka-er-daxi, in Ashi Shan, 5810m China
Pyroclastic cone
First Ascent: Most probably unclimbed.
Basic info:
Ka-er-daxi or Vulkan is very obscure volcano in the heart of the Kunlun Shan on the Tibetan High Plateau in China. I don't know anything about the peak and no one seems to either. Location: 35°30'33"/80°11'06".
For much more information - Go to Vulkan's main page!
The only info I have found.
Here and here. | Google Earth image of the volcano and the surrounding area.
Recent information, handed over by some Chinese friends indicates there are some even higher volcanoes in China. More about this soon, if it can be confirmed these peaks are of volcanic origin.
The five highest volcanoes in Asia.
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Africa| |
| Kilimanjaro 5895m Tanzania
A dormant stratovolcano.
First Ascent: H. Meyer and L. Purtscheller 1889.
Basic info:
Kilimanjaro is located in Tanzania, close to the Kenyan border. It's a lone volcano with great prominence. It attracts lots of climbers every year and is considered an easy non-technical climb. High park fees and tough regulations makes it a moderately expensive venture.
For much more information - Go to Kilimnajaro's main page! | A detailed map of the Kilimanjaro area.
The five highest volcanoes in Africa.
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Europe| |
 | Elbrus 5642m Russia
Stratovolcano, active, solfataric. Last known eruption about 50 AD.
First Ascent - East Peak: D. W. Freshfield, C. C. Tucker, A. W. Moore and F. Devouassoud 1868.
First Ascent - West Peak: F. Gardiner, F. Crauford Grove, H. Walker and P. Knubel 1874.
Basic info:
Elbrus is a snowcovered peak in the Caucasus. Low temperatures and sudden weather changes can cause problems for climbers, but apart from that, it's regarded as an easy climb. There's a small conservation fee to paid upon arrivel.
For much more information - Go to Elbrus's main page! | A map of the Elbrus area.
The five highest volcanoes in Europe.
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North America| |  | Pico de Orizaba 5611m Mexico
An active stratovolcano which had its last eruption 1687.
First Ascent: Henri Galeotti, Nicolas Funck, Jean-Jules Linden and Augusto Ghiesbreght in 1838.
Basic info:
The peak is located in central Mexico and rises high above the surrounding area. It's located quite near Mexico City and access is easy. There are no fees or red tape. The peak is an easy target for the experienced mountaineer, but a hard trek for the normal hiker.
More information - Go to Pico de Orizaba's main page! | A detailed map of the Orizaba area.
The five highest volcanoes in North America.
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Oceania| | | Giluwe 4368m Papua New Guinea
A very old and highly eroded volcano. Last eruption probably about 30 000 - 40 000 years ago.
First Ascent: Unknown.
Basic info:
This hard to reach volcano is located in the central highlands of Papua New Guinea. Days of travel on bad roads is required, but the climb itself is straight forward and easy. No peak fees or permits.
No further information on Summitpost, nor anywhere else on the Web.
The only reference I have is Michael Kelsey's book about volcanoes. | A map of the route on Giluwe.
The five highest volcanoes in Oceania.
| | 1. Giluwe - 4368m - Papua New Guinea | |
| 2. Mauna Kea - 4205m - USA | |
| 3. Mauna Loa - 4169m - USA | |
| 4. Mt Hagen - 3795m - Papua New Guinea | |
| 5. Doma - 3568m - Papua New Guinea |
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Antarctica| |  | Mount Sidley 4181m (Marie Byrd Land)
Dissected shield volcano with caldera. Dormant, probably extinct.
First Ascent: Unknown.
Basic info:
Mount Sidley is very hard to reach and an expensive flight is the only option, unless you want to try out an over 500km long walk from the sea. High costs in terms of insurances and other fees are also to be taken into account. The climb itself is regarded as easy, though potentially very cold.
For much more information - Go to Sidley's main page! | A map of the Sidley area.
The five highest volcanoes in Antarctica.
| 1. Sidley - 4181m - Mary Byrd Land | |
| 2. Erebrus - 3794m - Ross Island | |
| 3. Frakes - 3654m - Mary Byrd Land | |
| 4. Toney - 3595m - Mary Byrd Land | |
| 5. Steere - 3558m - Mary Byrd Land |
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External LinksAn album with Summitpost's best volcano photos
More about volcanoes on Summitpost
Long lists of the highest volcanoes on each continent A good source for volcano information CreditsA lot of information comes from SkiMountaineer.com
Some of the maps are hotlinked from the site and some of the volcanoes which aren't present on Summitpost yet, are linked to this site. Images
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