Volcano Type: Stratovolcanoes
Volcano Status: Historical
Last Known Eruption: 2003
Summit Elevation: 5967 m 19,577 feet
Latitude: 15.78°S 15°47’0″S
Longitude: 71.85°W 71°51’0″W
Sabancaya, located on the saddle between 6288-m-high Ampato and 6025-m-high Hualca Hualca volcanoes, is the youngest of these volcanic centers and the only one to have erupted in historical time. The oldest of the three volcanoes, Nevado Hualca Hualca, is of probable late-Pliocene to early Pleistocene age.
Aerial view of Sabancaya Volcano
Both Nevado Ampato and Nevado Sabancaya are only slightly affected by glacial erosion and consist of a series of lava domes aligned along a NW-SW trend. The name of 5967-m-high Sabancaya (meaning “tongue of fire” in the Quechua Indian language) first appeared in records in 1595 AD, suggesting activity prior to that date.
Sabancaya Volcano eruption
Holocene activity has consisted of plinian eruptions followed by emission of voluminous andesitic and dacitic lava flows, which form an extensive apron around the volcano on all sides but the south. Records of historical eruptions of Sabancaya date back to 1750.
The volcano is covered with several glaciers, and several short lava flows extend radially around the summit crater.
Sabancaya Volcano crater
2003 Eruptions
On 31st July 2003 ashfall was noted at the volcano which covered the summit, and extended to the volcano’s base on the NE side.
2000 Eruptions
Small ash eruptions occurred in April and May 2000.
1998 Eruptions
Ash eruptions occurred at Sabancaya Volcano in August and September.
1990-95 Eruptions
Sabancaya Volcano eruption
Eruptions began on 29th May 1990. By 5th June 1990, eruptions became continuous, with ash emissions to 6 km altitude. On 8th June 1990 there violent explosions every 5-10 minutes.
Sabancaya Volcano eruption
Ash fell 20 km from the crater. In 1991 there was strong vulcanian eruptions and a mudflow which killed 20 people. On 19th February 1992, increased activity caused the evacuation of several towns in a 14 km radius of the volcano. Eruptions ended in May 1995.
1988 Eruptions
Between the 22-25 June 1988 voluminous steam pulses were emitted every few minutes.
1986 Eruptions
In December 1986 Sabancaya volcano showed strong fumarolic activity and glowing tephra ejections were visible at night. These were the first recorded eruption at the volcano in 200 years.
NASA's view of Sabancaya
Eruption of Sabancaya Volcano
Ash column of Sabancaya as seen from Colla Valley
View over Sabancaya volcano from Corporaque
Originally posted 2010-11-01 03:57:02.
