South America Active Volcanoes
Active volcanoes in South America run along the continental divide defined by the Andes, and group into the northern, central, and southern volcanic zones. South America has some 174 volcanoes with historic eruptions and youthful aspect to their volcanic edifices. Most of the erupting centers are classified as stratovolcanoes, which define the classic pyramid shape such as typified in Mount Fuji of Japan. These volcanoes are mainly andesite in composition. They form through a combination of violent eruptions of ash and pyroclastics that drape the surrounding landscape to more passive lava flows running out the length from summit down the flank and to the base of the mountain. Other stages of formation may see sector collapse of the summit by mass wasting, such as what happened at Mount Saint Helens, summit collapse via caldera formation, and construction through emplacement of massive flow domes that tend to clog the central vent. The highest historically active volcano in the world lies along the Argentina–Chile border, a massive rounded complex volcano called Ojos del Salado (6,887 meters). This summit is also the second highest in South America. Some of the more classic or well-known South America volcanos include Cotopaxi, Misti, Sajama, Licancabur, Villarrica, and Osorno. The volcanic activity can include brief periods of ash eruptions, cycling eruptions that spread out over months, and intermittent variable eruption types can spread over years. Of all the volcanoes in the South America 27 are in unrest category or watch list, which you can find on Volcano Discovery site. As of January 9, 2017, five are actively erupting.
Villarrica- CHILE
Villarrica volcano in the Southern Volcanic Zone lies at 654 km south of Santiago in the Pucón Region. In March, 2015 the summit caldera had an active lava lake and intermittent lava flows draped the volcano flanks in spectacular fiery shows. Lava lakes are very rare. The four other persistent examples in the world include one in Hawaii Kilauea (Pu’uO’o cone), Mount Nyiragono, D.R.C., Erta Ale in Ethiopia, and Mount Erebus, Antarctica. Other volcanoes in Chile with current yellow alerts due to seismicity being higher than background are Copahue, Planchón-Peteroa, and Nevados de Chillán. In April-May, 2008 The volcano Chaiten had major eruptions. Current conditions are tracked in the SERNAGEOMIN site.
Sangay – Ecuador
Sangay volcano (5,230 m) is at 197 km south of Quito and 60 km south of Tungurahua volcano. The volcano is currently erupting ash, which has been a common ongoing intermittent event since 1934.
Reventador – Ecuador
Reventador (3,562 m) in northern Ecuador, at 70-km SE from Ibarra, is erupting ash. It has had some 29 major eruptions in the last 450 years.
Tungurahua – Ecuador
Tungurahua (5,023 m) presently idle but unrestful, has had numerous eruptions over the last three years. The volcano broods overlooking the small town on Baños that is highly regarded for its Hot Springs
Sabancaya – Peru
Sabancaya (5,957 m) began its latest activity in 2013 and has had several eruptions of significantly high columns of ash. Sabancaya is 74-km NW of Arequipa.
Ubinas – Peru
The Ubinas (5,672 m) stratovolcano, located 68-km directly east of Arequipa, has had intermittent ash eruptions for the last two years. The volcano is relatively short or stout compare to other stratovolcanoes of the Andes. The last ash eruption was in October, 2016. Current information on volcanic activity in Peru can be found at the Observatorio Vulcanologico de INGEMMET
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