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Peru · Stratovolcano

Sabancaya

Type
Stratovolcano
Elevation
5960m
Last eruption
2026
Sabancaya
Photo: Norm Banks, U.S. Geological Survey · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Peru
Region
South America / Central Andean Volcanic Arc
Elevation
5960m
Coordinates
-15.787, -71.857
Last eruption
2026
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic andesite
Geological summary

Sabancaya, located in the saddle NE of Ampato and SE of Hualca Hualca volcanoes, is the youngest of these volcanic centers and the only one to have erupted in historical time. The oldest of the three, Nevado Hualca Hualca, is of probable late-Pliocene to early Pleistocene age. The name Sabancaya (meaning "tongue of fire" in the Quechua language) first appeared in records in 1595 CE, suggesting activity prior to that date. Holocene activity has consisted of Plinian eruptions followed by emission of voluminous andesitic and dacitic lava flows, which form an extensive apron around the volcano on all sides but the south. Records of observed eruptions date back to 1750 CE.

From Wikipedia

Sabancaya is an active stratovolcano in the Andes of southern Peru, about 70 kilometres (43 mi) northwest of Arequipa. It is considered part of the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes, one of the three distinct volcanic belts of the Andes. The Central Volcanic Zone includes a number of volcanoes, some of which, like Huaynaputina, have had large eruptions, and others, such as Sabancaya and Ubinas, have been active in historical time. Sabancaya forms a volcanic complex together with Hualca Hualca to the north and Ampato to the south and has erupted andesite and dacite. It is covered by a small ice cap, which leads to a risk of lahars during eruptions.

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Eruption history

15 recordedGlossary
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
6600 BCE~6312 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?3725 BCE~3437 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 01163~1450 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1738~2025 · 12 eruptions · max VEI 36600 BCE4587 BCE2287 BCE275 BCE1738

Detailed timeline

  1. 2025VEI 3Observed
    2025-09-13 – 2026-03-25
  2. 2016VEI 3Observed
    2016-11-06 – 2025-04-06
    Sabancaya crater
  3. 2015VEI 1Observed
    2015-03-08 – 2015-12-12
    Summit crater
  4. 2014VEI 1Observed
    2014-08-05 – 2014-12-27
  5. 2003VEI 2Observed
    2003-07-30 – 2003-07-31
  6. 2000VEI 2Observed
    2000-04-16 – 2000-10-29
  7. 1990VEI 3Observed
    1990-05-28 – 1998-09-16
  8. 1988VEI 1Observed
    1988-06-22 – 1988-10-16
  9. 1987VEI 2Method not stated
    1987-08-07 – end unknown
  10. 1986VEI 1Observed
    1986-12-16 – end unknown
  11. 1784VEI ?Observed
    1784-07 – end unknown
  12. 1750VEI ?Observed
    1750 – end unknown
  13. 1350 (±150 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1350 – end unknown
  14. 3490 BCE (±40 yrs)VEI 0Geological estimate
    3490 BCE – end unknown
  15. 6600 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    6600 BCE – end unknown

Nearby volcanoes

External links

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