Fisher 1826/10
Start: October 11, 1826 [1]
Stop: January 1827 [2]
Event Type: Explosive
Max VEI: 3 [2]
Description: Khlebnikov (translated in 1994) writes of a volcano that is possibly Fisher caldera: "On 12 October 1826 the crest of another mountain [not Shishaldin or Isanotski] on the southwest side of the island [Unimak] was ruptured with horrible thunder-like noise, throwing out a lot of ash which was carried by the then blowing east wind and dropped over various places on Unalashka Island. The residents of Unimak Island sat in their yurts for ten days with lights, because it was impossible to go outside because of the blowing ash, which, entering the eyes and nose, caused an unbearable headache. During all this time, no daylight was visible. The condition of the atmosphere at that time would have given an amateur observer an understanding of atoms."
Veniaminov (1840, translated by Lydia T. Black and R.H. Geoghegan, 1984) also writes: "On October 11, 1826, with a dull noise, it [the low peak in the interior of Unimak Island] burst, emitting strong flames and a large quantity of ash of whitish color, which covered part of Aliaksa, Sannakh, and the islands closest to the latter, and was carried even to Unga. (This same ash caused the destruction of the wild pigs on Chernoburyi Island and the decrease of the caribou.) Since that time, the scattered large, extremely hot rocks, which lie about in heaps, have emitted incessant smoke. Around this peak burning sulphur may be found. All streams and swamps about this area are so hot that they steam constantly."
Subsequent compilers have used Veniaminov's October 11, 1826 date as the start of the eruption rather than Khlebnikov's October 12 date.
Stelling and others (2005) state: "The most likely deposit related to this eruption is a thin, fine-grained, black scoria within the vegetation mat distributed across the central portion of the caldera. The fresh apperance of the summit of Mt. Finch and the limited dispersal of the scoria layer suggest that the eruption emanated from this cone."
Veniaminov (1840, translated by Lydia T. Black and R.H. Geoghegan, 1984) also writes: "On October 11, 1826, with a dull noise, it [the low peak in the interior of Unimak Island] burst, emitting strong flames and a large quantity of ash of whitish color, which covered part of Aliaksa, Sannakh, and the islands closest to the latter, and was carried even to Unga. (This same ash caused the destruction of the wild pigs on Chernoburyi Island and the decrease of the caribou.) Since that time, the scattered large, extremely hot rocks, which lie about in heaps, have emitted incessant smoke. Around this peak burning sulphur may be found. All streams and swamps about this area are so hot that they steam constantly."
Subsequent compilers have used Veniaminov's October 11, 1826 date as the start of the eruption rather than Khlebnikov's October 12 date.
Stelling and others (2005) state: "The most likely deposit related to this eruption is a thin, fine-grained, black scoria within the vegetation mat distributed across the central portion of the caldera. The fresh apperance of the summit of Mt. Finch and the limited dispersal of the scoria layer suggest that the eruption emanated from this cone."
Impact: Khlebnikov (translated in 1994) writes that residents of Unimak Island "sat in their yurts for ten days with lights, because it was impossible to go outside because of the blowing ash, which, entering the eyes and nose, caused an unbearable headache. During all this time, no daylight was visible." [3]
References Cited
[1] Notes on the islands of the Unalaska district [translated from Russian by Lydia T. Black and R.H. Geoghegan in 1984], 1840
Veniaminov, Ivan, 1840, Notes on the islands of the Unalaska district [translated from Russian by Lydia T. Black and R.H. Geoghegan in 1984]: Pierce, R. A., (ed.), Kingston, Ontario, Limestone Press, 511 p.[2] Volcanoes of the world [2nd edition], 1994
Simkin, Tom, and Siebert, Lee, 1994, Volcanoes of the world [2nd edition]: Tucson, Arizona, Geoscience Press, 349 p.[3] Notes on Russian America, Parts II-V: Kad'iak, Unalashka, Atkha, the Pribylovs (translated by Marina Ramsay), 1994
Khlebnikov, K. T., 1994, Notes on Russian America, Parts II-V: Kad'iak, Unalashka, Atkha, the Pribylovs (translated by Marina Ramsay): Liapunova, R. G. and Fedorova, S. G., (comps.), Kingston, Ontario and Fairbanks, Alaska, The Limestone Press, 424 p.Complete Eruption References
Eruptive history of Fisher Caldera, Alaska, USA, 2005
Stelling, P., Gardner, J. E., and Beget, J., 2005, Eruptive history of Fisher Caldera, Alaska, USA: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 139, no. 3-4, p. 163-183.
Volcanism on Unimak Island, Alaska, USA: a special focus on Shishaldin and Fisher volcanoes, 2003
Stelling, P. L., 2003, Volcanism on Unimak Island, Alaska, USA: a special focus on Shishaldin and Fisher volcanoes: University of Alaska Fairbanks unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, 193 p. and one CD-ROM.
Catalog of the historically active volcanoes of Alaska, 1998
Miller, T. P., McGimsey, R. G., Richter, D. H., Riehle, J. R., Nye, C. J., Yount, M. E., and Dumoulin, J. A., 1998, Catalog of the historically active volcanoes of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-0582, 104 p.
intro and TOC PDF 268 KB
references PDF 43 KB 
Quick reference to Alaska's active volcanoes and listing of historical eruptions, 1760-1994, 1995
McGimsey, R. G., and Miller, T. P., 1995, Quick reference to Alaska's active volcanoes and listing of historical eruptions, 1760-1994: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-0520, 13 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet
Volcanoes of the world [2nd edition], 1994
Simkin, Tom, and Siebert, Lee, 1994, Volcanoes of the world [2nd edition]: Tucson, Arizona, Geoscience Press, 349 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf
Notes on Russian America, Parts II-V: Kad'iak, Unalashka, Atkha, the Pribylovs (translated by Marina Ramsay), 1994
Khlebnikov, K. T., 1994, Notes on Russian America, Parts II-V: Kad'iak, Unalashka, Atkha, the Pribylovs (translated by Marina Ramsay): Liapunova, R. G. and Fedorova, S. G., (comps.), Kingston, Ontario and Fairbanks, Alaska, The Limestone Press, 424 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet
Age, character, and significance of Aleutian arc volcanism, 1994
Fournelle, J. H., Marsh, B. D., and Myers, J. D., 1994, Age, character, and significance of Aleutian arc volcanism: in Plafker, George and Berg, H. C., (eds.), The Geology of Alaska, Geological Society of America The Geology of North America Series v. G-1, p. 723-758.
Volcanoes of North America: United States and Canada, 1990
Wood, C. A., and Kienle, Juergen, (eds.), 1990, Volcanoes of North America: United States and Canada: New York, Cambridge University Press, 354 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf
Historical unrest at large calderas of the world, 1988
Newhall, C.G., and Dzurisin, Daniel, 1988, Historical unrest at large calderas of the world: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1855, v. 1-2, 1108 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf
Gazetteer of coastal and offshore features of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Arc, 1979
Gerin, Marybeth, 1979, Gazetteer of coastal and offshore features of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Arc: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 79-1219, 51 p.
Grewingk's geology of Alaska and the Northwest Coast of America [edited by Marvin W. Falk, translation by Fritz Jaensch published 2003], 1850
Grewingk, Constantine, 1850, Grewingk's geology of Alaska and the Northwest Coast of America [edited by Marvin W. Falk, translation by Fritz Jaensch published 2003]: Rasmuson Library Historical Translation Series 11, Fairbanks, AK, The University of Alaska Press, 242 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf
Notes on the islands of the Unalaska district [translated from Russian by Lydia T. Black and R.H. Geoghegan in 1984], 1840
Veniaminov, Ivan, 1840, Notes on the islands of the Unalaska district [translated from Russian by Lydia T. Black and R.H. Geoghegan in 1984]: Pierce, R. A., (ed.), Kingston, Ontario, Limestone Press, 511 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet