Mount Shishaldin, Active stratovolcano on Unimak Island, Alaska.
Mount Shishaldin is an active stratovolcano on Unimak Island rising to about 2,900 meters above sea level. Its symmetrical cone is built from basalt and sits on a broad base that extends across the island's landscape.
The volcano formed over the past 10,000 years, building itself atop the eroded remains of an older volcanic structure from the late Tertiary period. This layered geological history shows how the mountain repeatedly rebuilt itself in this location.
The Aleut people called this mountain Sisquk, meaning the peak that guides lost travelers. The name reflects how this striking summit served as a natural landmark for navigation across the region.
The location is remote and difficult to reach, with most visitors arriving by plane from other islands in the Aleutians. Weather conditions change rapidly, and climbing the summit requires mountaineering equipment and significant experience.
The summit crater releases a constant steam plume visible from far away across the ocean. The upper part of the cone stays frozen year-round, creating a striking contrast between white ice and dark volcanic rock.
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