1. a large volcanic crater, typically formed by the collapse of a volcano after an eruption
Usage: geology term; often used in scientific and educational contexts

Examples

• Yellowstone National Park sits atop a massive caldera that last erupted about 640,000 years ago.
• The caldera at Crater Lake in Oregon is one of the deepest lakes in the United States.
• Geologists study calderas to better understand volcanic activity and predict future eruptions.
• The island of Santorini was formed around a caldera in the Aegean Sea.
• When the volcano collapsed inward, it created a large caldera filled with water.
• Scientists use satellite imagery to monitor changes in calderas around the world.