Pico del Teide
Location: 28.271° N, 16.641° W
Elivation: 3715 m
The large triangular island of Tenerife is composed
of a complex of overlapping Miocene-to-
Quaternary stratovolcanoes that have remained
active into historical time. The NE-trending
Cordillera Dorsal volcanic massif joins the Las
Cañadas volcano on the SW side of Tenerife with
older volcanoes, creating the largest volcanic
complex of the Canary Islands. Controversy
surrounds the formation of the dramatic 10 x 17
km Las Cañadas caldera, which is partially filled by
3715-m-high Teide stratovolcano, the highest peak
in the Atlantic Ocean. The origin of the caldera 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. (Global
Volcanism Program)
Teide is currently dormant; the last eruption
occurred in 1909 from the El Chinyero vent. El
Chinyero a vent on the Santiago Ridge. Historical
volcanic activity on the island is associated with
vents on the Santiago or northwest rift (Boca
Cangrejo in 1492, Montañas Cordillera Dorsal or
northeast rift (Fasnia in 1704, Siete Fuentes and
Arafo in 1705). The 1706 Montañas Negras
eruption destroyed the town and principal port of
Garachico, as well as several smaller villages. Historical activity associated with the Teide
and Pico Viejo stratovolcanoes occurred in 1798 from the Narices del Teide on the western
flank of Pico Viejo. Eruptive material from Pico Viejo, Montaña Teide and Montaña Blanca
partially fills the Las Cañadas caldera. The last explosive eruption involving the central
volcanic centre was from Montaña Blanca around 2000 years ago. The last eruption within
the Las Cañadas caldera occurred in 1798 from the Narices del Teide or Chahorra (Teides
Nostrils) on the western flank of Pico Viejo. The eruption was predominantly strombolian in
style and most of the lava was ’A’a. This lava is visible beside the Vilaflor–Chio road.
Christopher Columbus reported seeing "a great fire in the Orotava Valley" as he sailed past
Tenerife on his voyage to discover the New World in 1492. This was interpreted as indicating
that he had witnessed an eruption there. Radiometric dating of possible lavas indicates that
in 1492 no eruption occurred in the Orotava Valley, but one did occur from the Boca
Cangrejo vent. The last summit eruption from Teide occurred about the year 850 CE, and
this eruption produced the "Lavas Negras" or "Black Lavas" that cover much of the flanks of
the volcano. About 150,000 years ago, a much larger explosive eruption occurred, probably
of Volcanic Explosivity index 5. It created the Las Cañadas caldera, a large caldera at about
2,000 m above sea level, around 16 km from east to west and 9 km from north to south. At
Guajara, on the south side of the structure, the internal walls rise as almost sheer cliffs from
2,100 m to 2,715 m. The 3,718 m summit of Teide itself, and its sister stratovolcano Pico
Viejo (3,134 m, are both situated in the northern half of the caldera and are derived from
eruptions later than this prehistoric explosion. (Wikipedia)
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Location: 28.271° N, 16.641° W
Elivation: 3715 m
The large triangular island of Tenerife is composed
of a complex of overlapping Miocene-to-
Quaternary stratovolcanoes that have remained
active into historical time. The NE-trending
Cordillera Dorsal volcanic massif joins the Las
Cañadas volcano on the SW side of Tenerife with
older volcanoes, creating the largest volcanic
complex of the Canary Islands. Controversy
surrounds the formation of the dramatic 10 x 17
km Las Cañadas caldera, which is partially filled by
3715-m-high Teide stratovolcano, the highest peak
in the Atlantic Ocean. The origin of the caldera 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. (Global
Volcanism Program)
Teide is currently dormant; the last eruption
occurred in 1909 from the El Chinyero vent. El
Chinyero a vent on the Santiago Ridge. Historical
volcanic activity on the island is associated with
vents on the Santiago or northwest rift (Boca
Cangrejo in 1492, Montañas Cordillera Dorsal or
northeast rift (Fasnia in 1704, Siete Fuentes and
Arafo in 1705). The 1706 Montañas Negras
eruption destroyed the town and principal port of
Garachico, as well as several smaller villages. Historical activity associated with the Teide
and Pico Viejo stratovolcanoes occurred in 1798 from the Narices del Teide on the western
flank of Pico Viejo. Eruptive material from Pico Viejo, Montaña Teide and Montaña Blanca
partially fills the Las Cañadas caldera. The last explosive eruption involving the central
volcanic centre was from Montaña Blanca around 2000 years ago. The last eruption within
the Las Cañadas caldera occurred in 1798 from the Narices del Teide or Chahorra (Teides
Nostrils) on the western flank of Pico Viejo. The eruption was predominantly strombolian in
style and most of the lava was ’A’a. This lava is visible beside the Vilaflor–Chio road.
Christopher Columbus reported seeing "a great fire in the Orotava Valley" as he sailed past
Tenerife on his voyage to discover the New World in 1492. This was interpreted as indicating
that he had witnessed an eruption there. Radiometric dating of possible lavas indicates that
in 1492 no eruption occurred in the Orotava Valley, but one did occur from the Boca
Cangrejo vent. The last summit eruption from Teide occurred about the year 850 CE, and
this eruption produced the "Lavas Negras" or "Black Lavas" that cover much of the flanks of
the volcano. About 150,000 years ago, a much larger explosive eruption occurred, probably
of Volcanic Explosivity index 5. It created the Las Cañadas caldera, a large caldera at about
2,000 m above sea level, around 16 km from east to west and 9 km from north to south. At
Guajara, on the south side of the structure, the internal walls rise as almost sheer cliffs from
2,100 m to 2,715 m. The 3,718 m summit of Teide itself, and its sister stratovolcano Pico
Viejo (3,134 m, are both situated in the northern half of the caldera and are derived from
eruptions later than this prehistoric explosion. (Wikipedia)
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