Lascar Volcano
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| Lascar | |
|---|---|
 Lascar erupting in 2006. |
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| Elevation | 5,592 metres (18,346 ft) |
| Location | Northern Chile |
| Range | Andes |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | 2007 |
Lascar is the most active volcano of the northern Chilean Andes. It lies east of the Salar de Atacama and immediately west of Aguas Calientes volcano. Other volcanoes in the area include the Acamarachi and Chiliques, all of which form a spectacular backdrop for Laguna Lejía.
The andesitic-to-dacitic stratovolcano contains six overlapping summit craters. Prominent lava flows descend its NW flanks. The largest eruption of Lascar took place about 26,500 years ago, and following the eruption of the Tumbres scoria flow about 9000 years ago, activity shifted back to the eastern edifice, where three overlapping craters were formed. Frequent small-to-moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded from Lascar in historical time since the mid-19th century, along with periodic larger eruptions that produced ashfall hundreds of kilometers away from the volcano. The largest historical eruption of Lascar took place in 1993, producing pyroclastic flows to 8.5 km NW of the summit and ashfall in Buenos Aires. The latest series of eruptions began on 2006-04-18 and were continuing as of 2007-01-01.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Atacama Photo Gallery - panoramic view into the crater of Lascar
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