Pagan is a stratovolcano in the Mariana Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is nearly 1,300 miles (2,000 km) south-southeast of Tokyo. The largest of 19 historic eruptions was at North Pagan in 1981 ( VEI =4). The height of the eruption column was 18-20 km. Lava flowed down the northeast, northwest, and southwest flanks of the volcano (map). Fifty-three residents were evacuated without serious injury. Subsequent eruptions in 1987, 1988, 1992, and 1993 were less explosive. This Space Shuttle photograph (no 51B-146-030) shows the plume extending more than 60 miles (100 km) to the south-southwest.
Looking south to the island of Pagan. Photograph by Frank Trusdell, U.S. Geological Survey, April 30, 1994.
More images of Pagan and the 1981 eruption.
Images of 1994 eruption at Pagan.