Lascar, Chile

By ExploreNow Editor, on February 6th, 2012

Volcano Type:     Stratovolcanoes
Volcano Status:   Historical
Last Known Eruption:    2007
Summit Elevation:    5592 m    18,346 feet
Latitude:    23.37°S    23°22’0″S
Longitude:    67.73°W    67°44’0″W

Láscar is the most active volcano of the northern Chilean Andes. The andesitic-to-dacitic stratovolcano contains six overlapping summit craters. Prominent lava flows descend its NW flanks. An older, higher stratovolcano 5 km to the east, Volcán Aguas Calientes, displays a well-developed summit crater and a probable Holocene lava flow near its summit (de Silva and Francis, 1991). Láscar consists of two major edifices; activity began at the eastern volcano and then shifted to the western cone. The largest eruption of Lascar took place about 26,500 years ago, and following the eruption of the Tumbres scoria flow about 9000 years ago, activity shifted back to the eastern edifice, where three overlapping craters were formed. Frequent small-to-moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded from Láscar in historical time since the mid-19th century, along with periodic larger eruptions that produced ashfall hundreds of kilometers away from the volcano. The largest historical eruption of Láscar took place in 1993, producing pyroclastic flows to 8.5 km NW of the summit and ashfall in Buenos Aires.

Steaming volcano

Lascar Volcano is located in northern Chile. It is currently the most active volcano of the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes. Lascar has two cones – the Western Extinct Cone and the Eastern or Active Cone. Major pyroclastic eruptions the the past have failed to produce a caldera. Volcán Aguas Calientes is an older higher stratovolcano located 5 km east of Láscar.

Eruption of the Lascar Volcano in 1993

A large eruption of Lascar volcano occurred in 1993 when pyroclastic flows reached 8.5km from the summit. Lascar is a popular target for mountaineers, due to its relatively low altitude is a good mountain to get acclimatized for higher tour. Under good weather conditions, warm clothes and trekking boot are enough, but after a snowfall or in the winter season, (June – August) you may need special gear for the summit area. The massif is composed of two strato-volcanoes whose center are 1.6km apart. Each crater measures approximatey 900m in diameter and 300m deep. At present day, Lascar is the only volcano in the region to be erupting Lava. Background activity varies from steam emissions to fumarolic emissions, but occasional minor vulcanian eruptions occur and slugs of ash and vapour are emitted.