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Colombia · Stratovolcano

Nevado del Ruiz

Ruiz, Nevado del

Type
Stratovolcano
Elevation
5279m
Last eruption
2026
Nevado del Ruiz
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Colombia
Region
South America / Northern Andean Volcanic Arc
Elevation
5279m
Coordinates
4.892, -75.324
Last eruption
2026
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic andesite
Geological summary

Nevado del Ruiz is a broad, glacier-covered volcano in central Colombia that covers more than 200 km2. Three major edifices, composed of andesitic and dacitic lavas and andesitic pyroclastics, have been constructed since the beginning of the Pleistocene. The modern cone consists of a broad cluster of lava domes built within the caldera of an older edifice. The 1-km-wide, 240-m-deep Arenas crater occupies the summit. The prominent La Olleta pyroclastic cone located on the SW flank may also have been active in historical time. Steep headwalls of massive landslides cut the flanks. Melting of its summit icecap during historical eruptions, which date back to the 16th century, has resulted in devastating lahars, including one in 1985 that was South America's deadliest eruption.

From Wikipedia

Nevado del Ruiz, also known as La Mesa de Herveo is a volcano on the border of the departments of Caldas and Tolima in Colombia, being the highest point of both. It is located about 130 km (81 mi) west of the capital city Bogotá. It is a stratovolcano composed of many layers of lava alternating with hardened volcanic ash and other pyroclastic rocks. Volcanic activity at Nevado del Ruiz began about two million years ago, during the Early Pleistocene or Late Pliocene, with three major eruptive periods. The current volcanic cone formed during the present eruptive period, which began 150,000 years ago.

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Eruption history

24 recordedGlossary
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
6660 BCE~6371 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1456 BCE~1166 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?877 BCE~588 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 4299 BCE~10 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 4279~568 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 3568~857 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 31147~1436 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 41436~1725 · 4 eruptions · max VEI 41725~2014 · 13 eruptions · max VEI 36660 BCE4636 BCE2323 BCE299 BCE1725

Detailed timeline

  1. 2014VEI 2Observed
    2014-11-18 – 2026-03-16
    Arenas crater
  2. 2012VEI 3Observed
    2012-02-22 – 2013-07-12
    Arenas Crater
  3. 1994VEI ?Method not stated
    1994-04-23 – 1994-04-23
  4. 1985VEI 3Observed
    1985-09-11 – 1991-07-13
    Arenas Crater
  5. 1984VEI 1Observed
    1984-12-22 – 1985-03-19
    Arenas Crater
  6. 1916VEI 2Observed
    1916-07-02 – end unknown
  7. 1845VEI 3Observed
    1845-02-19 – end unknown
    Arenas and La Olleta(?) craters
  8. 1833VEI 2Method not stated
    1833-07-02 – end unknown
  9. 1831VEI 2Observed
    1831-07-02 – end unknown
  10. 1829VEI 2Observed
    1829-06-18 – end unknown
  11. 1828VEI 2Observed
    1828-06-16 – end unknown
  12. 1826VEI 2Method not stated
    1826-07-02 – end unknown
  13. 1805VEI 2Observed
    1805-03-14 – end unknown
  14. 1623VEI 1Observed
    1623 – end unknown
    Near Arenas Crater
  15. 1595VEI 4Observed
    1595-03-09 – end unknown
    Arenas Crater
  16. 1570VEI ?Observed
    1570 – end unknown
    Arenas Crater?
  17. 1541VEI ?Method not stated
    1541 – end unknown
  18. 1350VEI 4Geological estimate
    1350 – end unknown
    Arenas Crater
  19. 675 (±50 yrs)VEI 3Geological estimate
    675 – end unknown
    Arenas Crater
  20. 350 (±300 yrs)VEI 3Geological estimate
    350 – end unknown
    West flank
  21. 200 BCE (±100 yrs)VEI 4Geological estimate
    200 BCE – end unknown
    Arenas Crater
  22. 850 BCEVEI 4Geological estimate
    850 BCE – end unknown
    Arenas Crater
  23. 1245 BCE (±150 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1245 BCE – end unknown
    ENE flank ? (Alto la Piramide ?)
  24. 6660 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    6660 BCE – end unknown
    Arenas Crater

Nearby volcanoes

External links

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