La Palma
Location: 28.58° N, 17.83° W
Elevation: 2.426 m
España1984
Photos: Rolf Cosar
The 47-km-long wedge-shaped island of La Palma, the NW-most of the Canary Islands, is composed
of two large volcanic centers. The older 2426-m-high northern one is cut by the massive steep-walled
Caldera Taburiente, one of several massive collapse scarps produced by edifice failure to the SW. The
younger 1949-m-high Cumbre Vieja, the southern volcano, is one of the most active in the Canaries.
The elongated volcano dates back to about 125,000 years ago and is oriented N-S. Eruptions during
the past 7000 years have originated from the abundant cinder cones and craters along the axis of
Cumbre Vieja, producing fissure-fed lava flows that descend steeply to the sea. Historical eruptions at
La Palma, recorded since the 15th century, have produced mild explosive activity and lava flows that
damaged populated areas. The southern tip of the island is mantled by a broad lava field produced
during the 1677-1678 eruption. Lava flows also reached the sea in 1585, 1646, 1712, 1949, and 1971.
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Photos: Rolf Cosar
The 47-km-long wedge-shaped island of La Palma, the NW-most of the Canary Islands, is composed
of two large volcanic centers. The older 2426-m-high northern one is cut by the massive steep-walled
Caldera Taburiente, one of several massive collapse scarps produced by edifice failure to the SW. The
younger 1949-m-high Cumbre Vieja, the southern volcano, is one of the most active in the Canaries.
The elongated volcano dates back to about 125,000 years ago and is oriented N-S. Eruptions during
the past 7000 years have originated from the abundant cinder cones and craters along the axis of
Cumbre Vieja, producing fissure-fed lava flows that descend steeply to the sea. Historical eruptions at
La Palma, recorded since the 15th century, have produced mild explosive activity and lava flows that
damaged populated areas. The southern tip of the island is mantled by a broad lava field produced
during the 1677-1678 eruption. Lava flows also reached the sea in 1585, 1646, 1712, 1949, and 1971.
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