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Nevado del Tolima

Colombia's Glacier-Capped Sentinel

Elevation

5,215 m

Last Eruption

1943

Type

Stratovolcano

Country

Colombia

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • 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

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity83 years agoHistoricalRecently 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

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Interesting Facts

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Nevado del Tolima rises to 5,215 m (17,110 ft), making it one of the highest active volcanoes in Colombia and in the entire Northern Andean Volcanic Arc.

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The volcano produced a VEI 5 Plinian eruption approximately 3,600 years ago — comparable in scale to the 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius.

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Tolima's glaciers have lost an estimated 90% of their coverage since the Little Ice Age, and may disappear entirely within decades due to climate change.

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The volcano lies just 30 km south of Nevado del Ruiz, whose 1985 eruption generated lahars that killed over 23,000 people in Armero.

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A funnel-shaped summit crater, 200-300 m deep, caps the steep-sided cone at the highest point of the edifice.

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Tolima has produced 12 recorded eruptions spanning approximately 10,000 years, with activity ranging from VEI 2 minor events to VEI 5 Plinian catastrophes.

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The volcano's younger cone formed during the past 40,000 years, built atop a 3-km-wide late-Pleistocene caldera.

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Los Nevados National Natural Park, which encompasses Tolima, protects the rare tropical paramo ecosystem — alpine grassland found only in the northern Andes.

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The city of Ibague (population ~580,000), capital of Tolima Department, lies approximately 30 km southeast and could be affected by lahars in a major eruption.

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Three eruptions occurred in rapid succession between 1822 and 1826, the most active historical period at this volcano.

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Lava dome growth has produced block-and-ash flows that traveled primarily to the northeast and southeast in past eruptions.

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The summit climb is a 3-5-day mountaineering expedition requiring glacier travel with crampons and ice axes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nevado del Tolima active?
Yes, Nevado del Tolima is classified as an active stratovolcano. Its most recent eruption occurred in March 1943, producing minor explosive activity rated VEI 2. The geological record reveals 12 eruptions over the past 10,000 years, including a major VEI 5 Plinian eruption approximately 3,600 years ago. The volcano is continuously monitored by Colombia's Servicio Geologico Colombiano. The 80-year repose since 1943 is within the normal range of quiet intervals between eruptions at this volcano.
How tall is Nevado del Tolima?
Nevado del Tolima stands at 5,215 m (17,110 ft) above sea level, making it one of Colombia's tallest volcanoes and one of the highest active volcanoes in the Northern Andean Volcanic Arc. It is slightly shorter than its neighbor Nevado del Ruiz (5,279 m) and Nevado del Huila (5,364 m, Colombia's tallest active volcano), but its steeper, more conical profile gives it a dramatic visual presence.
Could Nevado del Tolima erupt like Nevado del Ruiz?
Nevado del Tolima shares the same fundamental hazard profile as Nevado del Ruiz, which killed over 23,000 people in the 1985 Armero disaster through lahar generation. Both volcanoes are glacier-capped stratovolcanoes in the same volcanic arc. Tolima's geological record includes a VEI 5 Plinian eruption — actually larger than any known eruption at Ruiz — and any future eruption could melt glacial ice to generate destructive lahars. While Tolima's glaciers are smaller due to climate change, the hazard remains significant.
Can you climb Nevado del Tolima?
Yes, Nevado del Tolima is a popular mountaineering objective in Colombia. The standard route takes 3-5 days round trip, beginning from Juntas or Ibague, ascending through cloud forest and paramo to high-altitude camps. The summit requires glacier travel with crampons and ice axes. Los Nevados National Natural Park requires permits. Guided expeditions are strongly recommended. The best seasons are December-February and June-August.
Are Tolima's glaciers disappearing?
Yes, Nevado del Tolima's glaciers are retreating rapidly due to climate change. Colombia's glacier-covered volcanoes have lost an estimated 90% of their ice since the Little Ice Age, and scientists project that Tolima's remaining glaciers could disappear entirely within decades. This has both ecological consequences — the paramo ecosystem depends on glacial meltwater — and paradoxically reduces the lahar hazard somewhat, as less ice is available to melt during an eruption. However, sufficient ice remains to generate dangerous lahars.
When did Nevado del Tolima last erupt?
Nevado del Tolima last erupted in March 1943, with a minor VEI 2 explosive event that produced ash emissions from the summit crater. Before that, three eruptions occurred in quick succession between 1822 and 1826. While the recent eruptions have been small, the geological record demonstrates that the volcano is capable of much larger events — including a VEI 5 Plinian eruption approximately 3,600 years ago.