Michinmahuida

Stratovolcano in Chile

Last Eruption: 1835

Key Facts

Elevation

2,452 m (8,045 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

-42.799°, -72.445°

Region

Southern Andean Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The glacier-covered basaltic-to-andesitic Volcán Michinmahuida, located west of Lago Reñihue, has a saddle-shaped summit with an elongated 3-km-wide caldera. The massive edifice is elongated in a NE-SW direction, and a youthful eruptive center is located on the ENE side of the complex. A major explosive eruption at the beginning of the Holocene produced the Amarillo Ignimbrite that may have created the now ice-filled summit caldera, and Holocene tephra deposits from summit and flank vents have been identified.

An eruption was reported in 1742, and Charles Darwin observed activity in 1834. The latest known eruption, February-March 1835, produced a lava flow from a flank crater and lahars that reached the coast at Punta Chana.

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

Eruption Observed

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	191 years ago	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: 358040
•Evidence: Eruption Observed
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

Glacier-covered Volcán Minchinmávida is elongated along a NE-SW direction. The volcano has a mostly obscured 3-km-wide caldera, and a youthful eruptive center is located on the ENE side of the complex. An eruption from Minchinmávida was reported in 1742. Darwin observed the volcano in activity in 1834 on his renowned voyage that took him to the Galápagos Islands.

NASA International Space Station image ISS006-E-42260, 2003 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).