Summit Elevation: 5976 m
Latitude: 15.78°S
Longitude: 71.85°W
Sabancaya
Sabancaya is an active 5,976 m stratovolcano in the
Andes of southern Peru, about 100 kilometres
northwest of Arequipa. It is the most active volcano
in Peru and is part of a 20-kilometre north-south
chain of three major stratovolcanoes, including the
extinct and eroded 6,025 metres Nevado Hualca
Hualca at the northern end, the dormant 6,288
metres Nevado Ampato to the south, and Sabancaya
in the middle. Sabancaya hosts several glaciers
which cover an area of about 3.5 square kilometres
and descend as low as 5,400 metres on its flanks.
The andesite stratovolcano of Sabancaya has been
very active during historic times, with the earliest
recorded eruptions in 1695 and 1758. Following over 200 years of dormancy, satellites detected an
increase in thermal emission in July 1986 and intense activity resumed in December of that year, with
several eruptive cycles over the next two years producing a lava dome in the crater. The most sustained
period of activity began with explosive eruptions on May 28, 1990, and continued for over eight years.
The eruptive cycle rated a VEI of 3, with more than 25 million cubic metres of lava flows and tephra
produced over that period. At the height of the activity in 1994, eruptions producing large ash clouds
occurred every two hours. Although published topographic maps have not been revised since the
eruptive cycyle, it is suspected that the cone may have grown to just over 6,000 metres during that
time. Additional smaller eruptions occurred in 2000, 2003, 2010 y 2011. Sabancaya is considered one of
the most hazardous volcanoes in Peru, along with the massive Coropuna and the cone of El Misti near
Arequipa. As of the mid-1990s, over 8,000 people lived in the valleys draining the flanks of the volcano.
Potential hazards include lahars and pyroclastic flows down the Majes, Colca, and Siguas river
drainages. During the 1988 eruption, cattle died in nearby areas either directly from poisonous volcanic
gases or from eating contaminated vegetation. (Wikipedia)
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Sabancaya is an active 5,976 m stratovolcano in the
Andes of southern Peru, about 100 kilometres
northwest of Arequipa. It is the most active volcano
in Peru and is part of a 20-kilometre north-south
chain of three major stratovolcanoes, including the
extinct and eroded 6,025 metres Nevado Hualca
Hualca at the northern end, the dormant 6,288
metres Nevado Ampato to the south, and Sabancaya
in the middle. Sabancaya hosts several glaciers
which cover an area of about 3.5 square kilometres
and descend as low as 5,400 metres on its flanks.
The andesite stratovolcano of Sabancaya has been
very active during historic times, with the earliest
recorded eruptions in 1695 and 1758. Following over 200 years of dormancy, satellites detected an
increase in thermal emission in July 1986 and intense activity resumed in December of that year, with
several eruptive cycles over the next two years producing a lava dome in the crater. The most sustained
period of activity began with explosive eruptions on May 28, 1990, and continued for over eight years.
The eruptive cycle rated a VEI of 3, with more than 25 million cubic metres of lava flows and tephra
produced over that period. At the height of the activity in 1994, eruptions producing large ash clouds
occurred every two hours. Although published topographic maps have not been revised since the
eruptive cycyle, it is suspected that the cone may have grown to just over 6,000 metres during that
time. Additional smaller eruptions occurred in 2000, 2003, 2010 y 2011. Sabancaya is considered one of
the most hazardous volcanoes in Peru, along with the massive Coropuna and the cone of El Misti near
Arequipa. As of the mid-1990s, over 8,000 people lived in the valleys draining the flanks of the volcano.
Potential hazards include lahars and pyroclastic flows down the Majes, Colca, and Siguas river
drainages. During the 1988 eruption, cattle died in nearby areas either directly from poisonous volcanic
gases or from eating contaminated vegetation. (Wikipedia)
HOME
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click on Pictures to enlarge