A massive volcanic plateau in British Columbia hides a history of continental rifting

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Mount Edziza volcanic complex is a sprawling, ice-capped landscape in northwestern Canada. Spanning over 1,000 square kilometres, this rugged terrain of stratovolcanoes and cinder cones has been shaped by 7.5 million years of eruptions. Beneath its surface, active faults and hot springs reveal a restless, evolving geological giant.

The Mount Edziza volcanic complex (MEVC) is a prominent feature of the Northern Cordilleran Volcanic Province, a region defined by shield volcanoes and lava domes. Rising to a peak elevation of 2,786 metres, the complex is the highest of four large volcanic centres in the area. Its formation began approximately 7.5 million years ago, progressing through five distinct cycles of magmatic activity that spanned four geologic epochs. These cycles produced a diverse array of volcanic rocks, ranging from mafic alkali basalts to felsic peralkaline rocks like comendite and trachyte.

The complex sits atop the Stikinia terrane, a collection of Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks that were heavily eroded before volcanism commenced in the Late Miocene. The region is characterized by continental rifting, evidenced by normal faults along the Mess Creek valley. These faults remain active today; local reports from 1992 noted the emergence of new pressure ridges along tufa terraces, suggesting ongoing tectonic movement. This rifting process is likely driven by shifts in the relative motion between the North American and Pacific plates.

Glaciation has played a critical role in sculpting the landscape. During the Pleistocene, a regional ice sheet covered the area, and subsequent neoglaciation about 2,600 years ago saw glaciers advance and build terminal moraines. While the 19th century brought rapid glacial recession, ice caps still obscure the highest peaks, including Mount Edziza and Ice Peak. Today, the complex is a protected provincial park, accessible only by aircraft or horse trails, where Indigenous Tahltan people have historically sourced volcanic glass for tools and weaponry.

Recent volcanic activity has been sparse, with the most recent eruptions occurring within the last 11,000 years. While none of these have been precisely dated, scientific records suggest eruptive events as recently as 1,000 years ago. Current activity is limited to hot springs along the western flank, though future eruptions remain a possibility, potentially impacting local streams and increasing wildfire risks in the surrounding boreal forests.

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