Coropuna

Stratovolcano in Peru

Key Facts

Elevation

6,377 m (20,922 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

-15.520°, -72.650°

Region

Central Andean Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Nevado Coropuna is a massive ice-covered volcanic complex with multiple summit cones built over a 12 x 20 km area. The summit of the andesitic-to-dacitic complex is a cone at the NW end, north of a line of E-W-trending cones. Deep, steep-walled, canyons surrounding the volcano have produced topographic relief of more than 4,000 m over a horizontal distance of 15 km.

Dark-colored younger lava flows descend the NE, SE, and W flanks, but the age of the most recent eruptions are not known. Solfataric activity has been reported.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

Pyroclastic flows
Lava flows
Volcanic bombs and ballistics
Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate

Infrastructure RiskModerate

Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Silica Content

Intermediate (57-63% SiO₂)

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Formed by oceanic plate subduction, typically producing explosive eruptions due to water-rich magmas.

Age & Formation

Epoch

Holocene

Evidence

Evidence Credible

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

Metric	Value	Global Ranking	Significance
Total Recorded Eruptions	Unknown	Low	Moderately active volcano
Maximum VEI	VEI Unknown	Minor	Local impact potential
Recent Activity	Unknown	Historical	Historically active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program

International eruption database

Current Status

Normal

No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

Nearby Volcanoes in South America Volcanic Regions

Regional Volcanic Activity

The South America Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

Quick Info

•Smithsonian ID: 354003
•Evidence: Evidence Credible
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

Nevado Coropuna, Perú's highest and largest volcano, is a massive ice-covered volcanic complex with at least a half dozen summit cones scattered over a 12 x 20 km area. The 6377-m-high summit (left), seen here from the south, is located at the NW end of the complex. Deep, steep-walled canyons surrounding the volcano give it an impressive topographic relief of more than 4000 m over a horizontal distance of 15 km. Several young Holocene lava flows descend the NE, SE, and western flanks.

Photo by Norm Banks, 1988 (U.S. Geological Survey).