Imbabura
Compound in Ecuador
Key Facts
Elevation
4,609 m (15,121 ft)
Type
Compound
Location
0.258°, -78.183°
Region
Northern Andean Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Imbabura volcano rises to the north above scenic Laguna de San Pablo in the Interandean valley about 60 km N of Quito. The main edifice, Taita Imbabura ("Father Imbabura") forms the summit, with Huarmi Imbabura ("Imbabura's Son") forming a lateral lava-dome complex on the SW flank. Activity at the Pleistocene Imbabura I edifice constructed a large andesitic stratovolcano and ended prior to about 43,000 years ago with a major collapse that produced a debris avalanche that traveled 16 km N.
Subsequent growth of the Imbabura II stratovolcano continued at least into the early Holocene and typically consisted of growth and collapse of large-volume dacitic lava domes. A major eruption about 25,000 years ago produced a debris avalanche and possible lateral blast and was followed by growth of the Huarmi Imbabura lava dome. Historical reports of eruptions consisted of only mudflows and rock slides.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
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 | 7576 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in South America Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 352004
- •Evidence: Eruption Dated
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Imbabura volcano rises above the town of San Pablo del Lago in this aerial view from the south. The tip of Laguna de San Pablo is visible at the left. The main edifice, Taita Imbabura ("Father Imbabura"), forms the summit. Huarmi Imbabura ("Imbabura's Son") is a lateral lava-dome complex forming the grassy shoulder on the SW flank directly above the town of San Pablo del Lago in this view. Activity at the dominantly Pleistocene Imbabura volcano continued into at least the early Holocene.
Photo by Patricio Ramon (Instituto Geofisca, Escuela Politecnica Nacional).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.