Geological History
Sakura-jima is located in the Aira caldera, formed in an enormous eruption 22,000 years ago. Several hundred cubic kilometres of ash and pumice were ejected, causing the magma chamber underneath the erupting vents to collapse. The resulting caldera is over 20 km (12 mi) across. Tephra fell as far as 1,000 km (620 mi) from the volcano. Sakura-jima is a modern active vent of the same Aira caldera volcano.
Sakura-jima was formed by later activity within the caldera, beginning about 13,000 years ago. It lies about 8 km (5 mi) south of the centre of the caldera. Its first eruption in recorded history occurred in 963 CE. Most of its eruptions are strombolian, affecting only the summit areas, but larger plinian eruptions have occurred in 1471–1476, 1779–1782 and 1914.
Volcanic activity at Kita-dake ended around 4,900 years ago: subsequent eruptions have been centered on Minami-dake.
Read more about this topic: Sakura Island
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