Volcano Type: Stratovolcano
Volcano Status: Uncertain
Last Known Eruption: Unknown
Summit Elevation: 6082 m 19,954 feet
Latitude: 24.25°S 24°15’0″S
Longitude: 67.77°W 67°46’0″W
Aracar is a large steep-sided, conical stratovolcano in northwestern Argentina, just east of the Chilean border. It has an uneroded summit crater about 1.5 km (1 mi) in diameter which contains a small crater lake. It is located on the edge of the Puna de Atacama, a high desert plateau east of the Atacama Desert. It is located just east of the Argentina-Chile border.
Aracar Volcano
The volcano was constructed during three eruptive cycles dating back to the Pliocene. The andesitic stratovolcano overlies dacitic lava domes. Lava flows are found at the base of the volcano below 4500 m elevation are relatively well preserved, but upper-flank lavas, often an indication of youthful activity, are not present. The only observed volcanic activity was a possible steam or ash plume on March 28, 1993 seen from the village of Tolar Grande about 50 km (31 mi) southeast of the volcano. There were reports of possible ash columns from the summit, but it is not known whether these were rockfall dust or eruption plumes.
Aracar Volcano (Kevin Jones)
Aracar Volcano (Alicia Nijdam)
Originally posted 2010-11-02 04:10:17.
