Sairecabur
Stratovolcano(es) in Chile-Bolivia
Key Facts
Elevation
5,961 m (19,557 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano(es)
Location
-22.719°, -67.891°
Region
Central Andean Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
This chain of andesitic-dacitic volcanoes along the Chile-Bolivia border contains at least 10 postglacial centers and stretches from Escalante volcano in the N to Sairecábur volcano in the S. Nomenclature reflecting local usage results in conflicting names applied to these features on Chilean and Bolivian topographic maps. The highest peak, Sairecábur, is located on the northern margin of a 4.
5-km-wide caldera. Postglacial activity began S of the summit, but most recently produced a pristine lava flow to the NW. An active sulfur mine is located N of the volcano.
Escalante, slightly older than Sairecábur, has a crater lake at its summit and youthful lava flows on its flanks, and other eruptive centers have also produced Holocene lava flows. The Pleistocene-Holocene Curinquinca volcano lies at the NE end of the complex; Cerro Colorado volcano lies at the NW end.
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 | Unknown | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in South America Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 355091
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The western side of the Sairecábur volcanic complex is seen with thick, blocky lava flows in the foreground. This chain of andesitic-dacitic volcanoes along the Chile-Bolivia border contains at least 10 postglacial centers and stretches from Escalante volcano on the north to Sairecábur volcano on the south. The highest peak, Sairecábur, is located on the northern margin of a 4.5-km-wide caldera. An active sulfur mine is located north of the volcano. Escalante has a crater lake at its summit and youthful lava flows on its flanks.
Photo by Raphaél Paris, 2004 (CNRS, Clermont-Ferrand).
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.