Tenerife (Teide)

The Tallest Peak in the Atlantic Ocean

Elevation

3,715 m

Last Eruption

1909 CE

Type

Stratovolcano within caldera complex

Country

Spain

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

Pyroclastic flows and surges
Large explosive eruptions (VEI 4+)
Ash fall and tephra deposits
Lahars and debris flows
Pyroclastic flows
Lava flows
Volcanic bombs and ballistics
Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskLow

Infrastructure RiskHigh

Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary

Unknown

Silica Content

Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown

Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch

Unknown

Evidence

Unknown

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	117 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.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP

Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All Spain Volcanoes

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Stratovolcano within caldera complex Volcanoes

By volcano type

Canary Islands, Tenerife

Regional volcanoes

Hasmik Ghazaryan Olson

via Unsplash

Michal Mrozek

via Unsplash

Mountain landscape with a clear blue sky and clouds.

Angelika P

via Unsplash

a view of the top of a mountain in the clouds

Marc Wieland

via Unsplash

Michal Mrozek

via Unsplash

Michal Mrozek

via Unsplash

Other Volcanoes in Spain

La Palma
Stratovolcano(es)

Interesting Facts

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Mount Teide is the highest peak in the Atlantic Ocean and the highest point in Spain at 3,715 m (12,188 ft) above sea level.

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Measured from the ocean floor at ~7,500 m, Teide is Earth's third-tallest volcanic structure — a ranking endorsed by both UNESCO and NASA.

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Teide National Park received over 4 million visitors in 2016, making it the most visited national park in Spain and one of the top ten in the world.

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The 1706 eruption of Montañas Negras destroyed Garachico, Tenerife's principal port, permanently shifting the island's maritime commerce to Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

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The Guanches, Tenerife's indigenous people, believed Teide was the abode of Guayota, a deity of evil depicted as a black dog, and would light bonfires during eruptions to drive him away.

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The 1909 Chinyero eruption's initial explosive phase reached mass discharge rates of 2.0–2.6 × 10⁵ kg/s — comparable to violent Strombolian eruptions at Vesuvius and Etna.

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Christopher Columbus reportedly witnessed the 1492 Boca Cangrejo eruption during his first voyage to the Americas, making it one of the earliest European-documented eruptions in the Atlantic.

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Teide's cable car is the first in the world to operate exclusively on renewable energy, with zero CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere.

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The Las Cañadas caldera (10 × 17 km) was formed by a combination of explosive eruptions and massive gravitational landslides, including events that may have generated Atlantic tsunamis.

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In January 2005, CO₂ emissions at Teide surged from 75 to 354 tonnes per day and H₂S from 35 to 152 tonnes per day within two weeks, indicating magmatic unrest.

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The name Teide derives from the Guanche word Echeyde, meaning “hell” or “inferno.”

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Tenerife has experienced at least 7 historical eruptions since 1492, more than any other island in the Canary archipelago.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mount Teide still active?

Yes, Mount Teide is classified as an active volcano by the Smithsonian Institution and Spanish geological authorities. Its most recent eruption occurred in 1909 from the El Chinyero vent on the northwestern Santiago rift. The central Teide–Pico Viejo complex last erupted in 1798 (Narices del Teide). Periodic seismic unrest and elevated volcanic gas emissions have been recorded, most notably in 2004–2005 when over 200 earthquakes occurred and CO₂ emissions at Teide surged to 354 tonnes per day. The volcano is continuously monitored by Spain's Instituto Geográfico Nacional and INVOLCAN. Teide is designated a Decade Volcano, recognizing that future eruptions are expected.

When did Mount Teide last erupt?

The most recent eruption on Tenerife occurred on 18 November 1909 from the El Chinyero vent on the northwestern Santiago rift, approximately 15 km from the Teide summit. The eruption lasted about 10 days with violent Strombolian explosions, lava flows, and tephra fallout across northern Tenerife. No casualties were recorded. The last eruption from the central Teide–Pico Viejo complex was the 1798 Narices del Teide event. The last explosive (Plinian) eruption from the central complex occurred approximately 2,000 years ago from Montaña Blanca.

Could Teide erupt again?

Yes, future eruptions on Tenerife are considered certain on a geological timescale. The most likely scenario is a rift-zone fissural eruption similar to 1706 or 1909, producing lava flows and moderate explosive activity from a vent on the Santiago or Cordillera Dorsal rift. A less probable but more dangerous scenario involves an explosive eruption from the central Teide complex with phonolitic magma. The 2004–2005 unrest episodes and periodic seismic swarms confirm that the volcanic system remains active. The Canary Islands experienced their most recent eruption in 2021 (Cumbre Vieja, La Palma), demonstrating ongoing archipelago-wide volcanic vitality.

How tall is Mount Teide?

Mount Teide stands 3,715 m (12,188 ft) above sea level, making it the highest point in Spain and the tallest peak in the Atlantic Ocean. When measured from the ocean floor, Teide rises approximately 7,500 m (24,600 ft), making it Earth's third-tallest volcanic structure according to UNESCO and NASA. Its base within the Las Cañadas caldera sits at approximately 2,190 m elevation, so the visible summit cone rises about 1,500 m above the caldera floor. The adjacent Pico Viejo reaches 3,135 m.

Can you climb Mount Teide?

Yes, but reaching the absolute summit (3,715 m) requires a free permit issued by Teide National Park, which must be reserved online in advance — demand greatly exceeds availability during peak season. The cable car (Teleférico del Teide) ascends from 2,356 m to La Rambleta station at 3,555 m in about 8 minutes. From there, the permitted summit trail (Trail #10) takes approximately 40 minutes. Alternatively, hikers staying overnight at the Altavista Mountain Refuge can summit without a daytime permit by arriving before 9:00 AM. The park also offers trails within the Las Cañadas caldera that don't require permits.

What type of volcano is Teide?

Teide is a stratovolcano (composite volcano) built within the 10 × 17 km Las Cañadas caldera. The broader Tenerife volcanic complex encompasses multiple overlapping structures spanning 12 million years. Teide itself began forming approximately 170,000 years ago following a massive landslide. The central complex produces phonolitic magmas (silica-undersaturated, alkali-rich) capable of explosive eruptions, while the rift zones produce trachybasaltic magmas in more effusive fissural eruptions. This dual character makes Tenerife volcanologically complex and hazard-assessment challenging.

Is Teide a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Yes, Teide National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 under two criteria: as a striking volcanic landscape of outstanding natural beauty (Criterion vii) and as an exceptional example of a geologically complex, mature volcanic system providing evidence of oceanic island evolution (Criterion viii). The 18,900-hectare park encompasses the Las Cañadas caldera, the Teide and Pico Viejo stratocones, and surrounding volcanic formations. UNESCO noted that Teide complements other volcanic World Heritage properties such as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

What destroyed the town of Garachico?

Garachico, Tenerife's principal port and commercial center, was destroyed by lava flows from the 1706 eruption of Montañas Negras (also called the Trevejo eruption) on the Santiago rift. The eruption began on 5 May approximately 8 km south of the coast, and lava flowed northward into the town, filling the harbor and reaching the sea. While casualties were limited because residents could evacuate ahead of the slow-moving lava, the destruction of the port was permanent. Maritime commerce shifted to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, fundamentally changing the island's economic geography. The solidified lava formations along Garachico's coast remain visible today.

How far is Teide from the coast?

The summit of Teide is approximately 15 km from the nearest coastline at Puerto de la Cruz to the north. The Las Cañadas caldera rim is approximately 10–12 km from the northern coast. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the island's capital, lies approximately 35 km to the northeast. The towns considered most at risk from volcanic activity — Garachico, Icod de los Vinos, and Santiago del Teide — are all within 15–25 km of historically active vents on the Santiago rift. Tenerife's approximately 900,000 residents are distributed around the island's coast.

What is the Las Cañadas caldera?

Las Cañadas is a massive volcanic caldera measuring approximately 10 × 17 km, within which the Teide and Pico Viejo stratocones were built. Its origin has been debated for decades: some scientists attribute it to collapse following major explosive eruptions, others to catastrophic gravitational landslides (similar to those that formed the La Orotava and Güímar valleys), and current consensus favors a combination of both processes. The caldera walls rise up to 500 m above the floor, creating a dramatic amphitheater. The caldera floor is partially filled by lava flows, domes, and cinder cones from Teide, Pico Viejo, and Montaña Blanca. It forms the core of Teide National Park and the UNESCO World Heritage Site.