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Last updated August 27, 2025

The Largest Calderas in the World: Earth's Scars

Aerial view of the Yellowstone caldera

Volcanic calderas: Earth's giant scars

A caldera (from the Portuguese "caldeira," meaning "cauldron") is a vast volcanic depression, usually circular, formed by the collapse of the roof of a magma chamber emptied after a major volcanic eruption. Unlike explosion craters, which are smaller and formed by explosive eruptions, calderas measure tens of kilometers in diameter and bear witness to cataclysmic events that have shaped the geological history of our planet.

Formation mechanisms

The formation of a caldera follows a complex geological process. During a super-eruption, enormous volumes of magma (generally > 1000 km³) are expelled in a relatively short time. The partially emptied magma chamber can no longer support the weight of the overlying rocks, causing the structure to collapse and create a depression. There are mainly three types of calderas:

The most impressive calderas on the planet

Our planet is home to several monumental calderas, witnesses to cataclysmic events that have shaped landscapes and influenced Earth's climate.

Table of characteristics of the world's main calderas
NameLocationDiameter (km)Ejected volume (km³)Age of formationType of caldera
La GaritaColorado, USA35 × 75> 500027.8 million yearsCollapse (ignimbrite)
TobaSumatra, Indonesia100 × 30280074,000 yearsCollapse (supervolcano)
YellowstoneWyoming, USA85 × 451000640,000 yearsCollapse (hotspot)
TaupoNorth Island, New Zealand35120026,500 yearsCollapse (volcanic arc)
Long ValleyCalifornia, USA32 × 17600760,000 yearsCollapse (volcanic complex)
Valle GrandeNew Mexico, USA223001.25 million yearsCollapse (ignimbrite)
AiraKyushu, Japan2040022,000 yearsCollapse (subduction)
Campi FlegreiNaples, Italy1350039,000 yearsCollapse (complex volcanic zone)
SantoriniGreece11601600 BCECollapse (Aegean arc)
KrakatoaIndonesia7251883Collapse (volcanic arc)
NgorongoroTanzania201502.5 million yearsCollapse (continental rift)
Cerro GalánArgentina3410002.2 million yearsCollapse (ignimbrite)
KilaueaHawaii, USA4 × 3.220Continuously formingCollapse (hotspot)
Crater LakeOregon, USA8 × 10507,700 yearsCollapse (composite volcano)
AskjaIceland8451875Collapse (Mid-Atlantic Rift)
RabaulPapua New Guinea141001,400 yearsCollapse (volcanic arc)
OkatainaNew Zealand2635064,000 yearsCollapse (volcanic arc)
VallesNew Mexico, USA224001.25 million yearsCollapse (ignimbrite)
IjenJava, Indonesia1550,000 yearsExplosion (acidic)
AniakchakAlaska, USA10503,400 yearsCollapse (Aleutian arc)

Source: Smithsonian Institution - Global Volcanism Program and United States Geological Survey.

Impact on climate and environment

Super-eruptions forming calderas have catastrophic consequences on a planetary scale. The injection of large amounts of ash and sulfur aerosols into the stratosphere can cause a "volcanic winter" with a significant drop in global temperatures for several years. The Toba eruption, 74,000 years ago, may have caused a global cooling of 3 to 5°C and a bottleneck in the human population, possibly reducing our species to just a few thousand individuals.

N.B.: A volcanic winter is a temporary drop in global temperatures caused by large volcanic eruptions. Ash and sulfur gases projected into the stratosphere reflect solar light, reducing the energy received at the surface.

The Blue Caldera: Oregon's Mirror of the Sky

Caldera crater lake oregon

Monitoring and current risks

The large calderas on our planet are visible scars of cataclysmic events that have marked Earth's history. Studying them informs us not only about extreme geological processes but also about the fragility of our civilization in the face of natural forces. Understanding these colossal volcanic systems is essential for assessing future risks and developing mitigation strategies for eruptions that, although rare, could one day recur.

Several large calderas, such as Yellowstone, Campi Flegrei (Italy), or Aira (Japan), still host active magmatic systems. They are closely monitored by volcanologists who measure ground deformation, seismic activity, gas emissions, and thermal variations. Although the risk of a super-eruption in the short term is statistically low, its consequences would be so dramatic that the international scientific community is closely watching these "sleeping giants".

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