Cerro Negro Volcano
Updated: May 16, 2024 14:15 GMT -
cinder cones 728 m / 2,388 ft
Nicaragua, 12.51°N / -86.7°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Nicaragua, 12.51°N / -86.7°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 9 Dec 2021 (increased earthquake activity)
Cerro Negro, Central America's youngest volcano was born in April 1850 and is one of the region's most active volcanoes. It has been producing frequent strombolian eruptions, occasional lava fountains and lava flows, and powerful explosive eruptions every few decades.
Cerro Negro lies in a sparsely populated area and its eruptions have not caused significant damage nearby, but ash fall from its sometimes strong explosions have damaged farmland and houses in the populated areas of the Nicaraguan depression.
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Cerro Negro volcano eruptions: 1999, 1995, 1992, 1971, 1969, 1968, 1964, 1963, 1962, 1961, 1960, 1957, 1954, 1950, 1949, 1948, 1947, 1929, 1923, 1919, 1914, 1899, 1867, 1850
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Time | Mag. / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
| May 15, 12:43 pm (Managua) | 1.5 14 km | 28 km (18 mi) to the N |  20 Km al norte de Volcán Telica, Nicaragua | Info | |
| Tuesday, May 14, 2024 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| May 14, 12:42 pm (Managua) | 1.3 13 km | 29 km (18 mi) to the N | 21 Km al noreste de Volcán Telica, Nicaragua | Info | |
| Saturday, May 11, 2024 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| May 11, 01:11 am (Managua) | 1.3 1 km | 1.1 km (0.7 mi) to the S | 8 Km al sur de Volcán Telica, Nicaragua | Info | |
| Thursday, May 2, 2024 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| May 2, 12:42 pm (Managua) | 1.4 9 km | 29 km (18 mi) to the N | 20 Km al suroeste de El Sauce, Nicaragua | Info | |
Background
Cerro Negro is the largest, southernmost, and most recent of a group of 4 young cinder cones that formed along a NNW-SSE-trending line in the central Marrabios Range 5 km NW of Las Pilas volcano. The volcano consists of a black ("negro") basaltic cinder cone with associated lava flows, including an aa flow field reaching 4 km to the NE and SW.The frequent eruptions of Cerro Negro have modified its morphology continuously since its birth 160 years ago.
Eruptions of Cerro Negro volcano
1999 eruption and lava fountains
An explosive eruption began at Cerro Negro volcano on 5 August. The eruption was preceded by strong seismic activity the previous night, including quakes that were felt in Managua 70 km away.
The explosions produced an ash column reaching 7 km altitude, and consisted of near-continuous pulses, sometimes containing liquid lava fountains up to 300 m tall.
The activity ended already the next day.
An explosive eruption began at Cerro Negro volcano on 5 August. The eruption was preceded by strong seismic activity the previous night, including quakes that were felt in Managua 70 km away.
The explosions produced an ash column reaching 7 km altitude, and consisted of near-continuous pulses, sometimes containing liquid lava fountains up to 300 m tall.
The activity ended already the next day.
1995 eruption
An explosive eruption started in the late afternoon of 28 May, following volcanic tremor detected during 24-28 May.
The eruption consisted of small ash explosions about every 30 minutes creating plumes rising a few 100 m and sometimes containing incandescent bombs.
On 30 May, geologists visited the crater and observed that a new vent had formed in the bottom of the central crater.
The eruption continued until 16 August, but its most violent phase was in early June, when explosions occurred on average every 8-15 minutes and sometimes reached up to 1 km height. A small pyroclastic surge was produced by a phreatomagmatic explosion on 2 June.
An explosive eruption started in the late afternoon of 28 May, following volcanic tremor detected during 24-28 May.
The eruption consisted of small ash explosions about every 30 minutes creating plumes rising a few 100 m and sometimes containing incandescent bombs.
On 30 May, geologists visited the crater and observed that a new vent had formed in the bottom of the central crater.
The eruption continued until 16 August, but its most violent phase was in early June, when explosions occurred on average every 8-15 minutes and sometimes reached up to 1 km height. A small pyroclastic surge was produced by a phreatomagmatic explosion on 2 June.
1992 eruption
A violent strombolian eruption occurred at Cerrro Negro volcano between 9-12 April, and a less intense phase from 13-14 April 1992. 28,000 people were evacuated from nearby villages and the outskirts of León, Nicaragua's second largest city.
The eruption produced ash columns reaching 7.5 km altitudeand produced about 4 cm of ash fall in León. Lava fountains of 300 m were observed on the evening of 11 April.
During the second, less intense phase between 13-14 April, ash rose to 3.5 km. All activity stopped on 14 April.
A violent strombolian eruption occurred at Cerrro Negro volcano between 9-12 April, and a less intense phase from 13-14 April 1992. 28,000 people were evacuated from nearby villages and the outskirts of León, Nicaragua's second largest city.
The eruption produced ash columns reaching 7.5 km altitudeand produced about 4 cm of ash fall in León. Lava fountains of 300 m were observed on the evening of 11 April.
During the second, less intense phase between 13-14 April, ash rose to 3.5 km. All activity stopped on 14 April.
1971 eruption
Cerro Negro started a violent eruption from its central vent on 3 February 1971, which consisted in violent strombolian explosions and lava fountains about 500 m tall producing ash columns reaching up to about 10 km, and causing ash fall to the west in up to 80 km distance. Up to 10 cm of ash were deposited in villages near the volcano. The eruption ended on 14 February. ...more info
Cerro Negro started a violent eruption from its central vent on 3 February 1971, which consisted in violent strombolian explosions and lava fountains about 500 m tall producing ash columns reaching up to about 10 km, and causing ash fall to the west in up to 80 km distance. Up to 10 cm of ash were deposited in villages near the volcano. The eruption ended on 14 February. ...more info
1968 eruption
An explosive and effusive eruption occurred at Cerro Negro volcano around 25 October 1968. A report from 28 Oct reads "tremendous amount of 'smoke'and rock coming out of main cone".
The eruption occurred opened new vents on the south side of the crater, which produced powerful strombolian activity, lava fountains visible from León, and lava flows to the W and SW. Heavy ash fall occurred 10 km from the volcano. 13 villages were evacuated.
The intensity increased on 30 October, when 2 large explosions were observed. A pilot reported the lava flow about 1 km long, 250 wide and 30-40 m thick.
On 4 November, the eruption decreased somewhat. An observer writes: "the new lava vent at the base of Cerro Negro contains a lava fountain shooting molten lava to a height of 30 m into the air. The majority of this material falls back into the pool."
Around 10 November, the eruption intensity picked up again. On 18 Nov, an eruption cloud reached 2-3 km altitude, and lava fountains and continuous ash emissions were observed at the vents. A second lava flow had formed traveling to the SE.
Activity continued in similar ways until 7 December, when it sharply decreased and ended on 10 December.
A series of weak explosions occurred again a year later, in December 1969.
An explosive and effusive eruption occurred at Cerro Negro volcano around 25 October 1968. A report from 28 Oct reads "tremendous amount of 'smoke'and rock coming out of main cone".
The eruption occurred opened new vents on the south side of the crater, which produced powerful strombolian activity, lava fountains visible from León, and lava flows to the W and SW. Heavy ash fall occurred 10 km from the volcano. 13 villages were evacuated.
The intensity increased on 30 October, when 2 large explosions were observed. A pilot reported the lava flow about 1 km long, 250 wide and 30-40 m thick.
On 4 November, the eruption decreased somewhat. An observer writes: "the new lava vent at the base of Cerro Negro contains a lava fountain shooting molten lava to a height of 30 m into the air. The majority of this material falls back into the pool."
Around 10 November, the eruption intensity picked up again. On 18 Nov, an eruption cloud reached 2-3 km altitude, and lava fountains and continuous ash emissions were observed at the vents. A second lava flow had formed traveling to the SE.
Activity continued in similar ways until 7 December, when it sharply decreased and ended on 10 December.
A series of weak explosions occurred again a year later, in December 1969.
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