Skip to main content
Back to map
CompareShow on map

Spain · Stratovolcano

Tenerife

Type
Stratovolcano
Elevation
3715m
Last eruption
1909
Tenerife
Photo: Adrian · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Spain
Region
Northern Africa / Canary Volcanic Province
Elevation
3715m
Coordinates
28.271, -16.641
Last eruption
1909
Tectonic setting
Intraplate / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Phonolite
Geological summary

The large triangular island of Tenerife is composed of a complex of overlapping Miocene-to-Quaternary stratovolcanoes. The NE-trending Cordillera Dorsal volcanic massif joins the Las Cañadas volcano on the SW side of the island with older volcanoes, creating the largest volcanic complex of the Canary Islands. The origin of the 10 x 17 km Las Cañadas caldera, partially filled by the Teide stratovolcano, has been variably considered to be due to collapse following multiple major explosive eruptions or as a result of a massive landslide (in a manner similar to the earlier formation of the massive La Orotava and Guimar valleys), or a combination of the two processes. The most recent stage of activity beginning in the late Pleistocene included the construction of the Pico Viejo and Teide edifices. Tenerife was perhaps observed in eruption by Christopher Columbus, and several flank vents on the Canary Island's most active volcano have been active during historical time.

From Wikipedia

Tenerife is the largest and most-populous island of the Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain, located in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwestern coast of Africa. With an area of 2,034.38 km2 (785.48 sq mi) and a population of 972,018 in 2026, it is the largest island in Macaronesia, and the most populous island in both Macaronesia and Spain. Tenerife is dominated by Teide, a volcanic peak that is the highest mountain in Spain and the highest point in the Atlantic islands.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

45 recordedGlossary
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
7550 BCE~7235 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?6919 BCE~6604 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?6604 BCE~6289 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?6289 BCE~5973 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?5973 BCE~5658 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?5658 BCE~5343 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?5343 BCE~5028 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?4712 BCE~4397 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?4397 BCE~4082 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?4082 BCE~3766 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?3766 BCE~3451 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?3451 BCE~3136 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?3136 BCE~2820 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?2820 BCE~2505 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?2505 BCE~2190 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?2190 BCE~1875 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1875 BCE~1559 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?1559 BCE~1244 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1244 BCE~929 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?929 BCE~613 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?613 BCE~298 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?298 BCE~17 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 417~333 · 5 eruptions · max VEI ?648~963 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 0963~1278 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1278~1594 · 4 eruptions · max VEI ?1594~1909 · 4 eruptions · max VEI 37550 BCE5343 BCE2820 BCE613 BCE1594

Detailed timeline

  1. 1909VEI 2Observed
    1909-11-18 – 1909-11-27
    NW rift zone (Chinyero)
  2. 1798VEI 3Observed
    1798-06-09 – 1798-09-14
    SW flank of Pico Viejo (Chahorra)
  3. 1706VEI 2Observed
    1706-05-05 – 1706-06-13
    NW rift zone (Garachico)
  4. 1704VEI 2Observed
    1704-12-31 – 1705-03-27
    NW rift zone (Siete Fuentes, Fasnia, Güímar)
  5. 1492VEI ?Observed
    1492-08-24 – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Montaña Boca Cangrejo)
  6. 1444VEI ?Method not stated
    1444 – end unknown
  7. 1396 (±3 yrs)VEI ?Method not stated
    1396 – end unknown
  8. 1341VEI ?Method not stated
    1341 – end unknown
  9. 1060 (±100 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1060 – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Montaña Reventada)
  10. 800 (±150 yrs)VEI 0Geological estimate
    800 – end unknown
    Pico de Tiede
  11. 700VEI ?Geological estimate
    700 – end unknown
    NE rift zone (Volcán Negro)
  12. 240 (±150 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    240 – end unknown
    NW flank of Pico Viejo (Roques Blancos)
  13. 190VEI ?Geological estimate
    190 – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Cuevas Negras)
  14. 90 (±75 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    90 – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Los Hornitos)
  15. 40VEI ?Geological estimate
    40 – end unknown
    Teide-Pico Viejo complex
  16. 30 (±150 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    30 – end unknown
    NW flank of Pico Viejo (Roques Blancos)
  17. 80 BCE (±40 yrs)VEI 4Geological estimate
    80 BCE – end unknown
    Montaña Blanca, Pico Viejo
  18. 520 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    520 BCE – end unknown
    Teide-Pico Viejo complex
  19. 580 BCE (±200 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    580 BCE – end unknown
    NW flank of Teide (El Boquerón)
  20. 670 BCE (±200 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    670 BCE – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Volcán el Ciego)
  21. 1050 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1050 BCE – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Montaña de Cascajo)
  22. 1150 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1150 BCE – end unknown
    Teide SW flank (Los Gemelos)
  23. 1400 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1400 BCE – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Montaña Samara)
  24. 1650 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1650 BCE – end unknown
    Teide SW flank (La Mancha Ruana)
  25. 1700 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    1700 BCE – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Montaña Botija)
  26. 1980 BCE (±200 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1980 BCE – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Montaña de Chío)
  27. 2250 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2250 BCE – end unknown
    Teide SE flank (Montaña Majúa)
  28. 2300 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2300 BCE – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Montaña Cruz de Tea)
  29. 2650 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2650 BCE – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Las Montañetas Negras)
  30. 2850 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    2850 BCE – end unknown
    Teide SE flank (Montaña de la Cruz)
  31. 3050 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3050 BCE – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Montaña Bilma)
  32. 3450 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3450 BCE – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Montaña Cruz)
  33. 3540 BCE (±150 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    3540 BCE – end unknown
    Teide NE flank (lower Montaña Abejera)
  34. 3750 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    3750 BCE – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Montaña del Estrucho)
  35. 3960 BCE (±300 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    3960 BCE – end unknown
    Teide NE flank (upper Montaña Abejera)
  36. 4200 BCE (±100 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    4200 BCE – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Montaña Cueve de Ratón)
  37. 4650 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    4650 BCE – end unknown
    Teide NE flank (Montañas de los Corrales)
  38. 5250 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5250 BCE – end unknown
    Teide E flank (Montaña de los Corrales)
  39. 5550 BCE (±1500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    5550 BCE – end unknown
    Teide N flank (Pico Cabras)
  40. 5750 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    5750 BCE – end unknown
    Teide NE flank (Montañas de los Conejos)
  41. 6200 BCE (±75 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    6200 BCE – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Montaña Liferfe)
  42. 6550 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    6550 BCE – end unknown
    Teide NNE flank (Montaña del Abrunco)
  43. 6850 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    6850 BCE – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Montaña de Abeque)
  44. 7260 BCE (±200 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    7260 BCE – end unknown
    NE flank (Montaña Negra-Los Tomillos)
  45. 7550 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    7550 BCE – end unknown
    NW rift zone (Montañas Negras)

Nearby volcanoes

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.