🌋VolcanoAtlas

Santa Isabel

Shield in Colombia

Last Eruption: -850

Key Facts

Elevation

4,944 m (16,220 ft)

Type

Shield

Location

4.818°, -75.365°

Region

Northern Andean Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Santa Isabel is a small andesitic shield volcano that is dwarfed by its neighbors to the NE (Nevado del Ruiz) and SE (Tolima). Three lava domes occupy the elongated, N-S-trending glaciated summit region, which has two main peaks. Holocene lava flows fill valleys to the SW and SE.

A small Holocene lava dome was emplaced at the center of a circular depression about 10 km SW. No historical eruptions are known.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    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 Activity2876 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: 351021
    • •Evidence: Eruption Dated
    • •Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    Santa Isabel is a small glaciated volcano is seen here from its much larger neighbor to the NE, Nevado del Ruiz. Holocene lava flows fill SW and SE valleys. A small Holocene lava dome was emplaced about 10 km SW of the volcano.

    Photo by Norm Banks, 1985 (U.S. Geological Survey).

    Authority Sources

    Smithsonian GVP
    Official volcano database
    USGS Volcano Hazards
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Global Volcanism Program
    Smithsonian Institution

    Related Volcanoes

    In Colombia:
    All Japan Volcanoes
    105 active volcanoes
    By Type:
    Caldera Volcanoes
    Large collapse features
    By Region:
    Kuril Volcanic Arc
    Subduction zone volcanoes

    Basic Information

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