🌋VolcanoAtlas

Yucamane

Stratovolcano(es) in Peru

Last Eruption: -1320

Key Facts

Elevation

5,495 m (18,028 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano(es)

Location

-17.184°, -70.196°

Region

Central Andean Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Volcán Yucamane lies at the south end of a group of three volcanoes known as the Caliente-Yucamane Volcanic Complex; both it and Cerro Caliente to the north display evidence of postglacial lava flows, which overlie thick moraines. The andesitic Yucamane has a youthful, well-preserved summit crater. Late-Pleistocene and Holocene eruptions have produced airfall deposits, pyroclastic flows and surges, and block-and-ash flows produced by growth and collapse of lava domes.

The most recent confirmed eruption, a subplinian event, took place about 3000-3300 radiocarbon years ago. Historical eruptions originally attributed to the more dissected Tutupaca during the 18th-20th centuries (Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World) were considered by de Silva and Francis (1990) to have more likely been from Yucamane, but later authors (eg. Samaniego et al.

2015) assigned them to Tutupaca, including an eruption of uncertain character reported in 1787 (Volcanological Society of Japan, 1971). Ongoing fieldwork has not found deposits younger than the 3000 BP event (Samaniego, 2015).

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 Observed

    Eruption Statistics & Analysis

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
    Recent Activity3346 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: 354050
    • Evidence: Eruption Observed
    • Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    Volcán Yucamane is composed of three main edifices, Yucamane Chico to the N, El Calientes in the middle, and Volcán Yucamane at the southern end, seen in this July 2019 Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic (N is at the top; the image is approximately 19.5 km across). Levees and pressure ridges are visible on lobate lava flows on the flanks.

    Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).

    Basic Information

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