Chile Culture » Chile Geography, Popular » Volcanoes of Chile

Volcanoes of Chile

Around the world more than 300 million people live near active volcanoes at risk from eruptions. Chile has a chain of about 2,000 volcanoes (not all of them active) dotted along the Andes; it has the second largest volcano chain in the world only after Indonesia. Most than half of the earth’s volcanoes are in the Pacific Ocean in an area called the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Pacific Ring of Fire

Chile is located between the South American and the Nazca Tectonic Plates. A river of hot magma causes the plates to slowly shift. Sometimes the plates move away from each other and other times they hit against each other. Volcanoes occur as a result of this underground movement.

Out of the 2,000 volcanoes in Chile, the majority of them are dormant or extinct. Volcanoes that have not erupted for many years are dormant but might become active again. An extinct volcano has not erupted for thousands of years. About 500 volcanoes are potentially active, 36 are currently active and 44 have erupted at least once since 1820. In the last 20 years there have been 15 volcanic eruptions. The most historically active volcanoes in the north of Chile are: Lascar, San Pedro, Guallatiri and Isluga. In the Central region: Tupungatito, San Jose, Azul (Quizapu), Nevados de Chillan, Antuco, Copaihue, Llaima, Villarica Puyehue Cordon Caulle. In the south the most historically active are: Osorno, Cabulco, Hudson and Lautaro. Chaiten in the south last erupted in 2009, its previous eruption was 7420 BC ± 75 years according to the Global Volcanism Program.

Puyehue Cordon Caulle eruption in 2011. Photo: Ivan Alvarado

Most large volcanoes in Chile are stratovolcanoes also called composite volcanoes. They are tall and cone-shaped made up of many layers of hardened lava and volcanic ash. Cinder cones are smaller than stratovolcanoes and are steep and cone-like in shape. In Chile there is also plenty of hydrothermal activity and is found where there is volcanic activity under the Earth’s crust. Geyser is a type of hot spring that erupts regularly, throwing hot water and steam into the air. There are also hot springs and fumaroles.

Llaima and Sierra Nevada Volcanoes

El Tatio Geyser in Antofagasta

List of volcanoes of Chile

Name of Volcano	Altitude in meters	Altitude in feet	Type	Location	Region	Known eruptions	Details
Tacora	5980	19,619	Stratovolcano	North	Arica y Parinacota	No recent activity	Tacora, the northernmost volcano of Chile, is a twin volcano with Chupiquiña to the north and lies near the Peruvian border
Taapaca	5860	19,226	Stratovolcano	North	Tarapaca	More than 2000 years ago	Tarapaca was a ceremonial site for the Inca people and it is partially contained within the boundaries of Lauca National Park
Parinacota	6348	20,827	Stratovolcano	North. Border with Bolivia	Arica y Parinacota	290 AD ± 300, 90 AD ± 50, 1100 BC ± 500, 4320 BC ± 1000, 5840 BC ± 50.	It is part of the Nevados de Payachata volcanic group, located in Sajama National Park (Bolivia) and Lauca National Park (Chile).
Acotango	6052	19,856	Complex Volcano	North. Border with Bolivia	Arica y Parinacota	Within the past 10,000 years	The Acotango Volcano, another of the attractions of the Lauca National Park, is the highest of the Nevados de Quimsachata
Guallatiri	6071	19,918	stratovolcano	North	Arica y Parinacota	1985, 1960, 1959, 1913, 1908?, 1825 ± 25	Guallatiri is one of the most active volcanoes in northern Chile.Minor explosive eruptions have been reported from Guallatiri since the beginning of the 19th century.
Isluga	5050	16,568	stratovolcano	North	Tarapaca	1960, 1913, 1885, 1878, 1877, 1869, 1868, 1863.	The summit contains a 400 m wide crater. In 1878 lava flows destroyed towns.The Isluga Volcano National Park, has important archaeological resources, like height sanctuaries, pukaras, citadels, funeral parlors, Incaican chullpas, which are distributed among the plateau hills.
Puchuldiza	4500	14,764	Hydrothermal field	North	Tarapaca	No recent activity	The volcano shows geothermal activity with hot pools up to 85 deg C, steam vents and geysers.
Irruputuncu	5163	16,939	stratovolcano	North	Arica y Parinacota	1995	The volcano contains two summit craters. Fumarolic activity occurs at the southern crater which is about 300 m in diameter.
Olca-Paruma	5407	17,740	stratovolcanoes	North. Border with Bolivia	Antofagasta	1865-67	There are three stratovolcanoes in the complex - Volcán Olca, Cerro Michincha, and Volcán Paruma.
Ollague	5868	19,252	stratovolcano	North. Border with Bolivia	Antofagasta	1903	The volcano displays fumarolic activity, particularly to the south of its summit area.
Cerro del Azufre	5846	19,180	Stratovolcano	North	Antofagasta	No recent activity	Cerro de Azufre volcano contains two summits
San Pedro	6163	20,220	Stratovolcano	North	Antofagasta	1960, 1938, 1923, 1917, 1916, 1911, 1901	Located in the Atacama desert, San Pedro volcano has two peaks. San Pedro is the western summit and San Pablo (6092 m) is in the east.
Paniri	5946	19,508	Stratovolcano	North	Antofagasta	Possible eruptions in the past 10,000 years.	The summit of the volcano contains three craters.
Chao	5100	16,732	Lava dome	North	Antofagasta	Possible eruptions in the past 10,000 years.	Chao lava dome is the largest in the world. It is 14.5-km-long and 350-400 m high.
Cerro del Leon	5760	18,898	Stratovolcano	North	Antofagasta	Possible eruptions in the past 10,000 years.	Chao lava dome separates it from Cerro Paniri, a stratovolcano, and to its east lies Chillahuita, another dacitic lava dome.
Tatio	4280	14,042	Hydrothermal field	North	Antofagasta	Possible eruptions in the past 10,000 years.	The hydrothermal filed consists of a chain of volcanoes - Cerro Deslinde, Cerro Volcán, Cerros del Tatio, and Volcán Tatio. It is the world's third largest geyser field and the largest in the southern hemisphere.
Putana	5890	19,324	Stratovolcano	North. Border with Bolivia	Antofagasta	1972, 1810.	Also known as Jorqencal or Machuca. Large deposits of sulphur are found at the volcano.
Sairecabur	5971	19,590	Stratovolcanoes	North. Border with Bolivia	Antofagasta	No recent activity	The complex includes the mountains Cerro Saciel and Cerro Ojos del Toro, the stratovolcanoes volcán Curiquinca, volcán Escalante or El Apagado and Cerro Colorado.
Licancabur	6017	19,741	Stratovolcano	North. Border with Bolivia	Antofagasta	No recent activity	The summit contains the world's highest lake at 5913 m. It is 90 m by 70 m wide. Extensive Inca ruins have been found on the summit.
Purico	5703	18,711	Pyroclastic shield	North	Antofagasta	No recent eruptions	It consists of several stratovolcanoes -Cerro Toco, Cerro Chascon de Purico and Cerro Aspero. The volcano contains numerous astronomical instruments including, Atacama Large Millimeter Array, Atacama Pathfinder Experiment, Atacama Cosmology Telescope, Atacama Submillimeter Telescope, and NANTEN2 Observatory.
Acamarchi (Cerro Pili)	6046	19,836	Stratovolcano	North	Antofagasta	No recent eruptions.	Located in Los Flamencos National Reserve, in the Antofagasta Region of Chile. The summit crater contains a lake about 10-15 m in diameter, which is possibly the second highest crater lake in the world.
Lascar	5592	18,346	Stratovolcano	North	Antofagasta	2006-07, 2005, 2002, 2000, 1994-95	Lascar has two cones, the Western is extinct and the eastern is active. Currently the most active volcano of the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes.
Chiliques	5778	18,957	Stratovolcano	North	Antofagasta	2002, 8000 BC	Chiliques contains a 500 m wide crater and lava flows extending 7 km north to Laguna Lejía. The volcano, which has been dormant for at least 10,000 years, is now showing signs of life.
Cordon de Puntas Negras	5852	19,199	Stratovolcano	North	Antofagasta	No recent eruptions.	Small cones such as Cerros Cenizas, Aguas Calientes, Laguna Escondida, and Chinchilla have well-preserved summit craters which produced short lava flows.
Tujle, Cerro Tucle or Cerro Tugle	3550	11,647	Maar	North	Antofagasta	No recent eruptions.	The volcano consists of a 60 m deep maar located SE of Salar de Atacama.
Pular	6233	20,449	Stratovolcanoes	North	Antofagasta	Possible eruption in 1990	The volcano contains 10 craters and extensive lava flows, it is the second highest peak in the Antofagasta region.
El Negrillar	3500	11,483	Pyroclastic cones	North	Antofagasta	No recent eruptions.	The volcano consists of cinder cones and lava flows.
La Negrillar	4109	13,481	Pyroclastic cones	North	Antofagasta	No recent eruptions.	The volcano consists of lava flows over a distance of 16 km.
Socompa	6060	19,882	Stratovolcano	North. Border with Argentina	Antofagasta	No recent eruptions.	It is best known for its large debris avalanche deposit, which is widely accepted as the best-preserved example of this type of deposit in the world, and also notable as the home of the world's most elevated known microbial ecosystems.
Llullaillaco	6793	22,287	Stratovolcano	North. Border with Argentina	Antofagasta	1877, 1868, 1854	Llullaillaco is the world's highest historically active volcano. In 1999 500-year old frozen Inca mummies and artifacts were found buried, so far they are the best preserved mummies ever found.
Escorial	5451	17,884	Stratovolcano	North. Border with Argentina	Araucanía	No recent eruptions.	The volcano contains a 1 km wide summit crater.
Lastarria	5697	18,691	Stratovolcano	North. Border with Argentina	Antofagasta	No recent eruptions.	The volcano contains five summit craters. A large avalanche deposit is located on the SE flank.
Cordon del Azufre	5463	17,923	Complex volcano	North. Border with Argentina	Atacama	No recent eruptions.	The volcano consists of a chain of vents and a 6 km long lava flow from Volcán la Moyra
Bayo	5401	17,720	Complex volcano	North. Border with Argentina	Atacama	No recent eruptions.	The border crosses the 400 meter-wide summit crater.
Sierra Nevada	6127	20,102	Complex volcano	North	Araucanía	No recent eruptions.	The volcano contains 12 volcanic vents and lava flows.
Nevado de Incahuasi	6620	21,719	Stratovolcano	North. Border with Argentina	Atacama	No recent eruptions.	The volcano consists of a 3.5 km wide caldera and two stratovolcanoes.
Nevados Ojos Del Salado	6891	22,608	Stratovolcano	North. Border with Argentina	Atacama	1993?, 700 AD ± 300	Nevados Ojos del Salado is the world's highest active volcano.
Copiapo	6052	19,856	Stratovolcano	North	Atacama	No recent eruptions.	The volcano is close to Nevado Tres Cruces National Park and Laguna del Negro Francisco
Tupungatito	6000	19,685	Stratovolcano	Central. Border with Argentina	Santiago Metropolitan Region	1986, 1980, 1968, 1964, 1961, 1960, 1959, 1958, 1946-47, 1925, 1907, 1901, 1897, 1889-90.	Located 80 km east of Santiago. It has 12 craters and a pyroclastic cone.
San Jose	5856	19,213	Stratovolcano	Central. Border with Argentina	Santiago Metropolitan Region	1960, 1959, 1895-97, 1889-90, 1881, 1822-38	Also known as volcán San José de Maipo. Several volcanoes occur in the group including, Marmolejo, Espíritu Santo, Volcán la Engorda and Volcán Plantat.
Maipo	5264	17,270	Caldera	Central. Border with Argentina	Santiago Metropolitan Region	1912, 1905, 1826, 1822	Located 108 km SE of Santiago. The volcano contains a 15 x 20 km caldera
Palomo	4860	15,945	Stratovolcano	Central.	O'Higgins	No recent eruptions.	130 km south of Santiago. The volcano formed within double calderas 3 km and 5 km in diameter.
Planchon-Peteroa	4107	13,474	calderas	Central. Border with Argentina	Maule	2010, 1998, 1991, 1967, 1962, 1960, 1959, 1938, 1937, 1889-94?, 1878, 1872?, 1869?, 1860, 1842?, 1837, 1835, 1762, 1660	The volcano contains several overlapping calderas.
Calabozos	3508	11,509	Caldera	Central.	Biobío	No recent eruptions.	The volcano contains a 26 x 14 km diameter caldera. The volcano consists of Cerro del Medio in the south of the caldera, and four vents of Descabezado Chico on western caldera rim.
Descabezado Grande	3953	12,969	Stratovolcano	Central.	Maule	1932-33	The volcano has a basal diameter of -11 km, a volume of 30 cubic km, and a 1.4-km-wide ice-filled summit crater.
Cerro Azul	3788	12,428	Stratovolcano	Central.	Maule	1967, 1949, 1933-38, 1916-32, 1914, 1913, 1912, 1907, 1906, 1903?, 1846-53?	Quizapu is a vent on the northern flank of Cerro Azul, which formed in 1846 during the first historical eruption at Cerro Azul. Quizapu was the source of one of the largest explosive eruptions of the 20th century in 1932, which created a 600-700 m wide 150-m-deep crater and ejected 9.5 cu km of tephra.
Laguna del Maule	3092	10,144	Stratovolcano	Central.	Maule	No recent eruptions.	volcanic complex covers 300 sq km located on the western shore on Lake Maule
Lomas Blancas	2268	7,441	Stratovolcano	Central.	Maule	No recent eruptions.	The volcano contains a 2.3 km wide caldera
Nevados de Chillan	3212	10,538	Stratovolcano	Central.	Biobío	2009, 2003, 1973-86, 1972, 1965, 1946-48, 1945, 1934, 1929.	On 21st January 2009, continuous emissions were reported at the volcano. Ash emissions reached 12,000 ft altitude.
Antuco	2985	9,793	Stratovolcano	Central.	Biobío	1869, 1863, 1862, 1861, 1852-53.	Located in the National Park Laguna de la Laja.
Copahue	2997	9,833	Stratovolcano	Central. Border with Argentina	Biobío	2000, 1992, 1961, 1937, 1867?, 1759?, 1750	The volcano contains a 6.5 x 8.5 km wide caldera, and a 2 km long, line of nine craters.
Callaqui	3164	10,381	Stratovolcano	Central.	Biobío	1980, 1937?, 1864?, 1751.	Lava flows extend 14 km from the volcano
Lonquimay	2865	9,400	Stratovolcano	Central.	Araucanía	1988-90, 1940?, 1933, 1887-90, 1853	A glacier is located in the summit crater and down the south flank.
Llaima	3125	10,253	Stratovolcano	Central.	Araucanía	2007-09, 2003, 1998, 1997, 1995, 1994, 1992, 1990, 1984, 1979, 1971-72, 1964, 1955-57, 1949, 1946, 1945, 1944, 1942, 1941, 1938, 1937, 1932-33, 1932, 1930, 1929, 1927, 1922, 1917, 1914, 1912, 1907-08, 1903, 1895-96, 1893-94	Llaima is one of the most active volcanoes in Chile. Historical records show that eruptions are usually brief.
Sollipulli	2282	7,487	caldera	Central.	Araucanía	1240 ± 50, 920 BC ± 75	is considered a hazardous volcano despite its smaller size than neighbouting Llaima and Villarrica.
Caburgua Huelemolle	995	3,264	Cinder cones	Central.	Araucanía	5050 BC ± 1000	The volcano consists of four cinder cones
Villarrica	2847	9,341	Stratovolcano	Central.	Araucanía	2010, 2008, 2005, 1985-2001 (lava lake), 1984-85, 1983, 1980, 1977, 1971-72, 1964, 1963, ?1960-61, 1958-59, 1950?, 1948-49, 1938, 1935, 1933, 1929, 1921, 1920-29, 1919?, 1915-18?, 1910?, 1909, 1908, 1907, 1906, 1904, 1897-98?, 1893-94?, 1883, 1879, 1877, 1875-76, 1874, 1869?, 1867-68, 1864, 1859-60, 1853, 1852?, 1837, 1832	about 650 km south of Santiago. Villarrica is one of Chile's most active volcanoes, tectonically associated with east-dipping subduction of the Nazca plate
Quetrupillan	2360	7,743	caldera	Central.	Araucanía	1872	The volcano contains a 3.5 km wide caldera.
Lanin	3774	12,382	Stratovolcano	Central.	Araucanía	560 AD ± 150 years, 400 AD ± 150, 90 AD ± 300, 80 BC ± 200, 220 BC ± 200, 590 BC ± 200, 6340 BC ± 200, 9240 BC ± 500.	historically inactive stratovolcano
Mocho-Choshuenco	2422	7,946	Stratovolcano	Central.	Los Lagos	1937, 1864	The volcano contains parasitic craters and scoria cones on the NE and SW flanks.
Carran-Los Venados	1114	3,655	pyroclastic cones	Central.	Los Rios	1979, 1955, 1907	The volcano contains group of about 50 basaltic to basaltic-andesite scoria cones, maars, and a small stratovolcano.
Puyehue Cordon Caulle	2236	7,336	Stratovolcano	Central.	Between Los Rios and Los Lagos	2011-12, 1960, 1934, 1929, 1921-22, 1905?, 1893?	Puyehue volcano in Chile erupted on Saturday 4th June 2011 after 51 years of inactivity.
Pantoja	2112	6,929	Stratovolcano	Central.	Araucanía	No recent eruptions.	The volcano is located SSW of Lake Constancia.
Osorno	2652	8,701	Stratovolcano	South	Los Lagos	1869, 1855, 1851, 1837, 1834-35, 1790-91, 1765, 1719, 1644?, 1640?, 1575?, 1310	Osorno is one of the most active volcanoes in southern Chile.
Cayutué-La Vigueria	506	1,660	Pyroclastic cones	South	Los Lagos		The volcano consists of about 20 basaltic maars and cinder cones. The volcano lies across Liquiñe-Ofqui fault zone.
Calbuco	2003	6,572	Stratovolcano	South	Los Lagos	1972, 1961, 1929, 1917, 1911-12, 1909, 1907, 1906, 1895, 1893-94.	The volcano contains a 400-500 m wide summit crater.
Mt Yate	2187	7,175	Stratovolcano	South	Los Lagos	No recent eruptions.	There are no records of historical volcanic activity at Yate volcano , but there is evidence of minor postglacial explosive eruptions from tephrochronology.
Hornopiren	1572	5,157	Stratovolcano	South	Los Lagos	1835	The volcano is located in Hornopirén National Park. This park has about 3000 hectares of glacier fields.
Apagado	1210	3,970	Pyroclastic cone	South	Los Lagos	No recent eruptions.	It is 50 km SE of Puerto Montt.
Huequi	1318	4,324	Stratovolcano	South	Los Lagos	1920, 1906-07, 1896, 1893, 1890.	800 m wide crater.
Minchinmavida	2404	7,887	Stratovolcano	South	Los Lagos	1835, 1834, 1742	The volcano was mistakingly reported to have erupted in 2008, when neighbouring Chaiten volcano made its first eruption in over 9000 years.
Chaiten	962	3,156	Caldera	South	Los Lagos	2008-10, 7420 BC ± 75	The volcano contains an obsidian lava dome in a 3.5 km wide caldera.
Corcovado	2300	7,546	Stratovolcano	South	Los Lagos	1834-35	The volcano contains cinder cones and glaciers. A series of lakes are located the eastern side of the volcano.
Yanteles	2050	6,726	Stratovolcano	South	Los Lagos	1835	The volcano contains five glacier-capped peaks
Puyuhuapi	255	837	Cinder cones	South	Aysén	Undated eruptions.	The volcano contains cinder cones at the head of Puyuhuapi fjord.
Mentolat	1660	5,446	Stratovolcano	South	Aysén	1710 ± 5, 5010 BC ± 50	The volcano consists of ice-filled 6 km wide caldera in the central part of Magdalena Island.
Maca	2960	9,711	Stratovolcano	South	Aysén	410 AD ± 50 years	Maca is a large stratovolcano located in southernmost part of the South Andean Volcanic Zone, Chile.
Hudson	1905	6,250	Stratovolcano	South	Aysén	2011, 1991, 1971, 1891, 1740 ± 150, 860 AD ± 100, 390 AD ± 150	contains a 10 km wide, almost circular caldera is filled with glacial ice, which drains into the Huemules glacier to the north.
Río Murta	1600	5,249	Pyroclastic cones	South	Aysén	No recent eruptions.	The volcano contains lava flows, pillow lavas, lava tubes, subglacial and sublacustral deposits.
Lautaro	3380	11,089	Stratovolcano	South	Magallanes	1979, 1978, 1972, 1961, 1959, 1945, 1933, 1876.	Lautaro volcano is the highest peak of the Southern Patagonian Ice-field.
Viedma	1300	4,265	subglacial volcano	South	Magallanes	1988	The volcano contains four calderas between 1.5 and 4 km in diameter.
Reclus		-	Stratovolcano	South	Magallanes	1908, 1879, 1869, 1830 BC.	The volcano contains a pyroclastic cone with a 1 km wide crater.
Monte Burney	1758	5,768	Stratovolcano	South	Magallanes	1910, 90 BC ± 100, 800 BC ± 500, 2290 BC ± 100, 3740 BC ± 10, 7140 BC ± 200, 7390 BC ± 200	The volcano contains a 6 km wide caldera.
Fueguino	150	492	Lava domes	South	Isla Cook	1820, 1712	Also known as volcán Cook. The volcano contains lava domes and pyroclastic cones.
San Félix	193	633	Shield volcano	Islands	Isla San Felix	No recent eruptions.	San Félix Island is located 800 km west of the coast of Chile. The volcano consists of a lava platform and two tuff cones.
Robinson Crusoe	922	3,025	Shield volcanoes	Islands	Robinson Crusoe Island	1835, 1743	Robinson Crusoe island is located 660 km off the west coast of Chile, at the same latitude as Santiago.
Source: Volcano Life