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Sumaco

Stratovolcano · Ecuador · 3990m

Forested Sumaco volcano rises to 3990 m above the jungles of the western Amazon basin and is seen here in an unusually cloud-free view NE of the road from Baeza to Tena. Sumaco is part of a north-south-trending volcanic chain far to the east of the main Andes volcanic axis and has erupted more alkaline rocks distinct from those of the main chain. Reports of historical eruptions are somewhat ambiguous, although the volcano maintains its symmetrical shape despite heavy rainfall and intense erosion.
Forested Sumaco volcano rises to 3990 m above the jungles of the western Amazon basin and is seen here in an unusually cloud-free view NE of the road from Baeza to Tena. Sumaco is part of a north-south-trending volcanic chain far to the east of the main Andes volcanic axis and has erupted more alkaline rocks distinct from those of the main chain. Reports of historical eruptions are somewhat ambiguous, although the volcano maintains its symmetrical shape despite heavy rainfall and intense erosion. · Photo: Photo by Ursy Potter, 2005. · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Ecuador
Region
South America Volcanic Regions / Northern Andean Volcanic Arc
Elevation
3990m
Coordinates
-0.538, -77.626
Last eruption
1895
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Trachybasalt / Tephrite Basanite
Geological summary

The forested Sumaco stratovolcano rises above the jungles of the western Amazon basin, east of Antisana volcano, and occupies an isolated position far to the east of the main Andes volcanic axis. Constructed over Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, it forms a relatively symmetrical cone in an area of heavy rainfall and erosion. Sumaco has produced alkaline tephritic, basanitic, and phonolitic rocks distinct from those of the main Andean chain. The volcano has a broad summit crater, 300 x 400 m wide, containing a central cone. Reports of historical eruptions are somewhat ambiguous; an eruption is inferred in the 18th or early-19th century on the basis of changes in crater morphology.

From Wikipedia

Sumaco is a symmetrical, isolated stratovolcano, that is set off from the main Ecuador volcanic axis. Its rocks are very distinct from those from most Andean volcanoes because of its lack of andesitic composition, in favour of basanite and phonolitic rock. Sumaco is heavily forested and contains a small cone in its broad summit crater. An historical eruption occurred around 1895.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
1650~1678 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 31876~1905 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21905~1933 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 216501707179218481905

Detailed timeline

  1. 1933VEI 2Geological estimate
    1933-02 – Ongoing
  2. 1895 (±30 yrs)VEI 2Observed
    1895 – Ongoing
  3. 1650 (±50 yrs)VEI 3Geological estimate
    1650 – Ongoing

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.