Sollipulli
Caldera in Chile
Key Facts
Elevation
2,282 m (7,487 ft)
Type
Caldera
Location
-38.970°, -71.520°
Region
Southern Andean Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The 4-km-wide, glacier-filled Sollipulli caldera lies E of the Pleistocene Nevados de Sollipulli complex. Major silicic pyroclastic rocks associated with caldera formation have not been found; it may have a non-explosive origin. Post-caldera eruptions have been focused along the caldera walls and have increased its height.
A series of dacitic lava domes lines the E and S caldera rims. The 1-km-wide Alpehué crater, which cuts the SW rim, was the source of a large Plinian eruption 2900 years before present (BP). Explosion craters and scoria cones are found on the outer flanks.
Two N-flank cones produced lava flows during the latest documented activity about 700 years BP (Naranjo et al. , 1993). This low-profile volcano is less prominent than its neighbors Llaima and Villarrica, but its explosive history makes it a potentially hazardous volcanic center.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows and surges
- Large explosive eruptions (VEI 4+)
- Ash fall and tephra deposits
- Lahars and debris flows
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 | 786 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in South America Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 357111
- •Evidence: Eruption Dated
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The broad profile of the snow-covered Sollipulli massif lies on the horizon to the NE as seen from the upper slopes of Villarrica volcano. A 4-km-wide caldera with post-caldera lava domes on its rim lies on the eastern side of the Nevados de Sollipulli volcanic chain. The rounded hills in the middle distance are pyroclastic cones of the Caburgua-Huelemolle volcano group; lava flows from these cones dammed drainages, forming Laguna Caburgua, visible at the upper left.
Photo by Lee Siebert, 2004 (Smithsonian Institution).
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.