Volcano Type: Stratovolcano
Volcano Status: Historical
Last Known Eruption: 2010
Summit Elevation: 5023 m 16,479 feet
Latitude: 1.467°S 1°28’1″S
Longitude: 78.442°W 78°26’30″W
Tungurahua, a steep-sided andesitic-dacitic stratovolcano that towers more than 3 km above its northern base, is one of Ecuador’s most active volcanoes. Three major volcanic edifices have been sequentially constructed since the mid-Pleistocene over a basement of metamorphic rocks. Tungurahua II was built within the past 14,000 years following the collapse of the initial edifice. Tungurahua II itself collapsed about 3000 years ago and produced a large debris-avalanche deposit and a horseshoe-shaped caldera open to the west, inside which the modern glacier-capped stratovolcano (Tungurahua III) was constructed. Historical eruptions have all originated from the summit crater. They have been accompanied by strong explosions and sometimes by pyroclastic flows and lava flows that reached populated areas at the volcano’s base. Prior to a long-term eruption beginning in 1999 that caused the temporary evacuation of the city of Baños at the foot of the volcano, the last major eruption had occurred from 1916 to 1918, although minor activity continued until 1925.
Tungurahua is a steep-sided stratovolcano with an almost perfect cone reaching 5016 m in the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. Its geographical location is 1.467°S and 78.442°W, 15 km east of Ambato, Ecuador’s fourth largest city and capital of the province of the same name as the volcano. The steep flanks of the volcano are used for agriculture and many small villages and a larger town, called Baños cradle the mountain on the northern and western side, which were affected in various degrees by lahar and ashes in the last few years.
The process of the volcanic activity of Tungurahua is quite different to that of Pichincha. The volcano emits continuously ashes, smoke and lava (Strombolian activity). Magma rises up the chimney and reaches the opening of the volcano. The danger of a big eruption lies in the blockage of the exit vent by big boulders and other materials. If it cannot exit freely anymore, there is a chance that more and more pressure accumulates under the blockage and finally leads to a huge explosion with potential structural collapse. Should that happen and the peak should break away, then a huge catastrophe is at hand as Baños and the other surrounding villages will be completely destroyed and some 20000 people are in danger of losing their lives.
Originally posted 2010-08-22 05:16:08.
