Licancabur
Stratovolcano in Chile-Bolivia
Key Facts
Elevation
5,916 m (19,409 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
-22.830°, -67.880°
Region
Central Andean Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The symmetrical steep-sided Licancabur stratovolcano was constructed primarily during the Holocene and contains a lake in its 400-m-wide summit crater. The Pleistocene Juriques volcano is located immediately to the SE and is capped by a 1. 5-km-wide summit crater.
Archaeological ruins were found on the crater rim. The shallow freshwater summit lake is 70 x 90 m and has a measured temperature of 6°C, supporting growth of planktonic fauna at nearly 6,000 m elevation. Young blocky andesitic lava flows with prominent levees extend up to 6 km down the NW-to-SW flanks; older flows reach up to 15 km from the summit crater and are covered by pyroclastic-flow deposits that extend 12 km.
The most recent activity produced flank lava flows.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
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 | Unknown | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in South America Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 355092
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The symmetrical Licancabur stratovolcano (left) rises above a basement of rhyodacitic ignimbrites and dacitic lava domes. A small 80-m-wide lake, one of the world's highest, occupies its 400-m-wide summit crater. Archaeological ruins were found on the 5916-m-high crater rim of Volcán Lincancabur. Young lava flows with prominent levees extend up to 6 km down the NW-to-SW flanks of the volcano.
Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).
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.