Aso Caldera

Aso Caldera
Aso Volcano, Asosan
Aso Caldera
Highest point
Peak	Takadake, 32°53′03″N 131°06′14″E
Elevation	1,592 m (5,223 ft)
Coordinates	32°53′02″N 131°06′14″E
Dimensions
Length	25 km (16 mi) NS
Width	18 km (11 mi) EW
Naming
Native name	阿蘇カルデラ (Japanese)
Geography
Aso Caldera Location within Japan
Location	Kumamoto, Japan
Country	Japan
State	Kumamoto Prefecture
Region	Aso District, Aso City, Takamori
Geology
Rock age	Pleistocene onwards
Mountain type(s)	Caldera Somma volcano
Rock type(s)	Dacite, Andesite
Last eruption	2021 CE

Nekodake, the most western Central cone within the Aso Caldera

Aso Caldera (also known as Asosan, the Aso Volcano or Mount Aso, although the later term usually is used related to its currently active vents) is a geographical feature of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It stretches 25 kilometers north to south and 18 kilometers east to west. The central core "Aso Gogaku" is the five major mountains in the area. Aso valley (Asodani) runs along the northern base of Mount Aso and Nango valley (Nangodani) along the south. According to research of caldera sediment, lakes used to exist in these valleys. The dried-up lake areas have come to be called Old Aso Lake, Kugino Lake, and Aso Valley Lake. The Kikuchi, Shirakawa and Kurokawa rivers now drain the caldera.