Ora Caldera

Ora Caldera
Ora Caldera
Highest point
Elevation234 m (768 ft)
Coordinates46°20′49″N 11°17′51″E / 46.34687°N 11.29747°E / 46.34687; 11.29747
Dimensions
Length40 km (25 mi)
Width42 km (26 mi)
Area1,680 km2 (650 mi2)
Geography
CountryItaly
Geology
Formed byTrans-tensional
OrogenyAlps
Rock age274 Ma
Mountain typeCaldera
Rock typeRhyolite
Volcanic beltAthesian Volcanic Group
Last eruption274 Ma

The Ora Caldera is an extinct Permian supervolcano in the Southern Alps of northern Italy. This 42-kilometre-wide (26 mi) and 40-kilometre-long (25 mi) caldera was formed by a supereruption 277–274 million years ago that produced more than 1,300 km3 (310 mi3) of rhyodacitic-rhyolitic ignimbrite. The ignimbrite from this eruption forms the 10-to-1,350-metre-thick (33 to 4,429 ft) Ora Formation, which represents the youngest eruptive unit of the Athesian Volcanic Group.