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Ecuador · Stratovolcano

Tungurahua volcano

Tungurahua

Type
Stratovolcano
Elevation
5023m
Last eruption
2016
Tungurahua volcano
Photo: Dabit100 / David Torres Costales · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Ecuador
Region
South America / Northern Andean Volcanic Arc
Elevation
5023m
Coordinates
-1.467, -78.442
Last eruption
2016
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic andesite
Geological summary

Tungurahua, a steep-sided andesitic-dacitic stratovolcano that towers more than 3 km above its northern base, is one of Ecuador's most active volcanoes. Three major edifices have been sequentially constructed since the mid-Pleistocene over a basement of metamorphic rocks. Tungurahua II was built within the past 14,000 years following the collapse of the initial edifice. Tungurahua II collapsed about 3,000 years ago and produced a large debris-avalanche deposit to the west. The modern glacier-capped stratovolcano (Tungurahua III) was constructed within the landslide scarp. Historical eruptions have all originated from the summit crater, accompanied by strong explosions and sometimes by pyroclastic flows and lava flows that reached populated areas at the volcano's base. Prior to a long-term eruption beginning in 1999 that caused the temporary evacuation of the city of Baños at the foot of the volcano, the last major eruption had occurred from 1916 to 1918, although minor activity continued until 1925.

From Wikipedia

Tungurahua is an active stratovolcano located in the Cordillera Oriental of Ecuador. The volcano gives its name to the province of Tungurahua. Volcanic activity restarted on August 19, 1999, and is ongoing as of 2023, with several eruptive episodes since then, the most recent lasting from February 26 to March 16, 2016.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

37 recordedGlossary
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
7750 BCE~7425 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 41242 BCE~917 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 5591 BCE~266 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI 3266 BCE~60 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 360~385 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 3385~710 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 3710~1036 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 41036~1361 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 31361~1687 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 31687~2012 · 18 eruptions · max VEI 47750 BCE5472 BCE2869 BCE591 BCE1687

Detailed timeline

  1. 2012VEI 3Observed
    2012-12-14 – 2016-03-16
    Summit crater
  2. 2011VEI 2Observed
    2011-04-20 – 2011-05-26
    Summit crater
  3. 2011VEI ?Observed
    2011-11-27 – 2012-09-04
    Summit crater
  4. 2010VEI 3Observed
    2010-01-01 – 2010-08-01
    Summit crater
  5. 2010VEI 3Observed
    2010-11-22 – 2011-01-02
    Summit crater
  6. 1999VEI 3Observed
    1999-10-05 – 2009-07-08
  7. 1993VEI 1Method not stated
    1993-05-06 – 1993-05-06
  8. 1944VEI 2Method not stated
    1944-07-02 – end unknown
  9. 1916VEI 4Observed
    1916-03-03 – 1925-12-01
  10. 1900VEI 2Method not stated
    1900-07-02 – end unknown
  11. 1886VEI 4Observed
    1886-01-11 – 1888-07-02
  12. 1885VEI 2Observed
    1885-01-16 – 1885-10-16
  13. 1857VEI 2Observed
    1857-09-10 – end unknown
  14. 1781VEI 2Method not stated
    1781 – end unknown
  15. 1777VEI 2Method not stated
    1777 – end unknown
  16. 1776VEI 2Observed
    1776-01-03 – end unknown
  17. 1773VEI 3Observed
    1773-02-04 – 1773-07
  18. 1757VEI 2Method not stated
    1757 – end unknown
  19. 1644VEI 2Observed
    1644 – 1646
  20. 1640VEI 3Observed
    1640 – 1641
  21. 1557VEI 2Observed
    1557 – end unknown
  22. 1350 (±50 yrs)VEI 3Geological estimate
    1350 – end unknown
  23. 1250 (±50 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1250 – end unknown
  24. 1030 (±75 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1030 – end unknown
  25. 800VEI ?Geological estimate
    800 – end unknown
  26. 730 (±200 yrs)VEI 4Geological estimate
    730 – end unknown
  27. 600VEI 3Geological estimate
    600 – end unknown
  28. 480 (±75 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    480 – end unknown
  29. 350VEI 3Geological estimate
    350 – end unknown
  30. 200VEI ?Geological estimate
    200 – end unknown
  31. 100VEI 3Geological estimate
    100 – end unknown
  32. 50 BCEVEI 3Geological estimate
    50 BCE – end unknown
  33. 100 BCEVEI 3Geological estimate
    100 BCE – end unknown
  34. 270 BCE (±100 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    270 BCE – end unknown
  35. 500 BCEVEI 3Geological estimate
    500 BCE – end unknown
  36. 1010 BCE (±100 yrs)VEI 5Geological estimate
    1010 BCE – end unknown
  37. 7750 BCEVEI 4Geological estimate
    7750 BCE – end unknown

Nearby volcanoes

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.