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El Hierro volcano (Canary Islands): almost no more activity
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Almost no earthquakes have occurred since the last update, and intervals between the occasional weak quakes are becoming longer. In addition, degassin... [more]
El Hierro volcano (Canary Islands): slight increase in earthquake activity
Monday, May 14, 2012
A slight increase of seismic activity has been noted recently. On 12 May, 5 small quakes occurred in the western part of the island at depths of 2-17 ... [more]
Photos from El Hierro


El Hierro volcano

shield volcano 1500 m
Canary Islands, 27.78°N / -17.95°W
Current status: dormant (1 out of 5)
El Hierro webcams / live data
last update: 18 Apr 2012 (degassing from submarine vent, weak earthquake activity under the island)
Typical eruption style: mainly effusive, basaltic fissure eruptions
El Hierro volcano eruptions: 2011 (Oct, submarine eruption) ongoing, 1793
El Hierro volcano photos
The triangular island of El Hierro is the SW-most and least studied of the Canary Islands.
Following intense earthquake swarms since July 2011, a new submarine eruption started in Oct 2011 at a vent ca. 1 km south of La Restinga off the southern tip of the island. The eruption, which could even start to build a new island, is ongoing at the time of updating. Follow the El Hierro news page for the latest events.

Background:

The massive El Hierro shield volcano is truncated by a large NW-facing escarpment formed as a result of gravitational collapse of El Golfo volcano about 130,000 years ago. The steep-sided 1500-m-high scarp towers above a low lava platform bordering 12-km-wide El Golfo Bay, and three other large submarine landslide deposits occur to the SW and SE. Three prominent rifts oriented NW, NE, and south at 120 degree angles form prominent topographic ridges. The subaerial portion of the volcano consists of flat-lying Quaternary basaltic and trachybasaltic lava flows and tuffs capped by numerous young cinder cones and lava flows. Holocene cones and flows are found both on the outer flanks and in the El Golfo depression. El Hierro contains the greatest concentration of young vents in the Canary Islands. Uncertainty surrounds the report of an historical eruption in 1793at Volcan0 of Lomo Negro. Source: Smithsonian GVP

El Hierro Photos:

Lava bomb at Playa de Verodal/El Hierro (Photo: Tobias Schorr)
Lava bomb at Playa de Verodal/El Hierro (Photo: Tobias Schorr)
 South rift zone landscape, El Hierro Island (Canary Islands) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
South rift zone landscape, El Hierro Island (Canary Islands) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
 Big surf at the west coast of El Hierro Island. The coast is formed by Holocene basalt lava flows forming a plateau that is exposed to the full force of the ocean waves. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Big surf at the west coast of El Hierro Island. The coast is formed by Holocene basalt lava flows forming a plateau that is exposed to the full force of the ocean waves. ...
el_hierro_2012_0166.jpg (c)
el_hierro_2012_0166.jpg (c)
 el_hierro_2012_0012.jpg (Photo: Tobias Schorr)
el_hierro_2012_0012.jpg (Photo: Tobias Schorr)
 el_hierro_2012_0128.jpg (c)
el_hierro_2012_0128.jpg (c)



Add a Comment
 
  • Posted By: VolcanicOdysseys on Mar 09, 2012 04:09PM

    very interesting tom, if this does persist it can be an incredible show soon. I see the trip of the year approaching.

    Reply Report Abuse
  • Posted By: M L Geleff on Mar 08, 2012 10:19PM
    El Hierro eruption 1 comment

    you should go here : volcanocafe.

    ... more
    Reply View Replies [1] Report Abuse
  • Posted By: tom on Oct 10, 2011 06:56PM Category: Eruptions & current activity (page)
    eruption not certain, but likely

    Scientists from IGN have stated that they are not 100% sure yet whether an eruption is in progress or not, although volcanic gases at the south side of the island have been detected and there is pure harmonic volcanic tremor, typical of volcanic eruptions.

    Tags: El Hierro
    Reply Report Abuse