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Fogo

Stratovolcano · Cabo Verde · 2829m

The 9-km-wide Cha caldera, open to the east, truncates the summit of Fogo stratovolcano. An ash plume (center) rises from an active vent on the western flank of the steep-sided Pico central cone (right). Pico is more than 1 km high and capped by an approximately 500-m-wide, 100-m-deep summit crater. Numerous historical eruptions have occurred from the summit of Pico and from its flanks in Cha caldera.
The 9-km-wide Cha caldera, open to the east, truncates the summit of Fogo stratovolcano. An ash plume (center) rises from an active vent on the western flank of the steep-sided Pico central cone (right). Pico is more than 1 km high and capped by an approximately 500-m-wide, 100-m-deep summit crater. Numerous historical eruptions have occurred from the summit of Pico and from its flanks in Cha caldera. · Photo: Photo by Richard Moore, 1995 (U.S. Geological Survey). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Cabo Verde
Region
Northern Africa Volcanic Regions / Cape Verde Hotspot Volcano Group
Elevation
2829m
Coordinates
14.950, -24.350
Last eruption
2015
Tectonic setting
Intraplate / Intermediate crust (15-25 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Foidite
Geological summary

The island of Fogo consists of a single massive stratovolcano that is the most prominent of the Cape Verde Islands. The roughly circular 25-km-wide island is truncated by a large 9-km-wide caldera that is breached to the east and has a headwall 1 km high. The caldera is located asymmetrically NE of the center of the island and was formed as a result of massive lateral collapse of the older Monte Armarelo edifice. A very youthful steep-sided central cone, Pico, rises more than 1 km above the caldera floor to about 100 m above the rim. Pico, which is capped by a 500-m-wide, 150-m-deep summit crater, was apparently in almost continuous activity from the time of Portuguese settlement in 1500 CE until around 1760. Later lava flows, some from vents on the caldera floor, reached the eastern coast below the breached caldera.

From Wikipedia

Fogo is an island in the Sotavento group of Cape Verde in the central Atlantic Ocean. Its population is 35,837 (2015), with an area of 476 km2 (184 sq mi). It reaches the highest altitude of all the islands in Cape Verde, rising to 2,829 metres above sea level at the summit of its active volcano, Pico do Fogo.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
1500~1551 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 11757~1808 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 21808~1860 · 4 eruptions · max VEI 21860~1911 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1911~1963 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21963~2014 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 215001603175718601963

Detailed timeline

  1. 2014VEI 2Observed
    2014-11-23 – 2015-02-08
    WSW base of Pico
  2. 1995VEI 2Observed
    1995-04-02 – 1995-05-26
    WSW flank of Pico
  3. 1951VEI 2Observed
    1951-06-12 – 1951-08-21
    Northwest and south caldera floor
  4. 1909VEI ?Observed
    1909 – Ongoing
  5. 1857VEI 2Observed
    1857-06-27 – 1857-12-15
    SSE caldera floor
  6. 1852VEI 2Observed
    1852-02-19 – 1852-03-30
    NNW caldera floor
  7. 1847VEI 2Observed
    1847-04-09 – 1847-05-02
    North caldera floor
  8. 1816VEI ?Observed
    1816-12-31 – Ongoing
  9. 1799VEI 2Observed
    1799-06-02 – 1799-06-28
    North caldera floor
  10. 1785VEI 2Observed
    1785-01-24 – 1785-02-25
    North caldera floor
  11. 1769VEI ?Observed
    1769-04 – Ongoing
    SW side
  12. 1500VEI 1Observed
    1500 – 1761
    Pico

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.