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Romeral

Stratovolcano in Colombia

Last Eruption: -5390

Key Facts

Elevation

3,769 m (12,365 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

5.203°, -75.363°

Region

Northern Andean Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The andesitic-to-dacitic Romeral stratovolcano lies at the northern end of the Ruiz-Tolima volcanic chain, NW of Cerro Bravo volcano, and east of the towns of Neira and Aranzazu. It has produced two young Plinian pumice deposits covering areas to the NW. The pumice deposits are separated by a soil layer radiocarbon dated at about 8,460 and 7,340 years BP.

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 Dated

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity7416 years agoHistoricalHistorically 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: 351011
  • Evidence: Eruption Dated
  • Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

Romeral volcano forms the area in the center of this 24 January 2018 Sentinel-2 satellite image, NE of the city of Manizales (N is at the top; the image is approximately 19 km across). It produced two Plinian pumice eruptions that blanket areas NW of the volcano, and is located at the northern end of the Ruiz-Tolima volcanic chain.

Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2018.

Basic Information

This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.