Get our newsletter!
Try our free app!
 Volcano Discoveries: "One of the most eye-catching guides to the world’s volcanoes ever published.  Our expert volcanologists and photographers offer unique travel experiences: volcano expeditions, photo tours, and relaxed walking & study tours. Guaranteed tours
: spaces available / : guaranteed / : few spaces left / : booked out
|
|
Nevado Cayambe is a massive volcanic complex in northern Ecuador, 60 km NE of the city of Quito and only 15 km E of the 20,000 inhabitants city of Cayambe. The equator passes through its southern flank. The andesitic-dacitic volcano is located on the isolated western edge of the Cordillera Real in the Ecuadorian Andes, east of the Inter-Andean Valley.
The volcano is capped by extensive glaciers, which descend to 4200 m on the eastern Amazonian side. It contains 2 summit lava domes located about 1.5 km apart, the western of which is the highest. Several other lava domes are located on the upper flanks and have been the source of pyroclastic flows down the lower flanks of the volcano.
La Virgen is a prominent young cinder cone on the lower eastern flank, which erupted thick andesitic lava flows that reached 10 km to the east.
There is only one confirmed historic eruption, during 1785-86, but recent studies have shown that the volcano has produced frequent explosive eruptions during the past 4000 years.
stratovolcano 5790 m / 18,996 ft
Ecuador, 0.03°N / -77.99°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
| ReportsCayambe volcano books
Cayambe volcano eruptions:
1785-86, 1700(?), 1590(?), 1570(?), 1440(?), 1290(?), 1270(?), 1040(?), 880(?), 260 AD (?), 200 AD (?), 170 AD (?), 10 AD (?), 180 BC (?), 230 BC (?), 260 BC (?), 460 BC, 510 BC (?), 560 BC (?), 1300 BC (?), 1650 BC (?), 1800 BC (?)
Typical eruption style:explosive
Last earthquakes nearby
Latest satellite images  Sentinel hub | Landsat 8
Cayambe volcano news & activity updates:
Wed, 1 Aug 2018, 15:00
Wed, 7 Dec 2016, 11:26
Current earthquakes (yellow: Sep-Dec 2016; blue: June 2016) under Cayambe (image: IGEPN) The volcano has become restless. Scientists from Ecuador's Institute of Geophysics (IGEPN) recorded an increased number of earthquakes under the volcano a new report shows. The increased seismicity could be (but not must be) a precursor of renewed activity in the medium-term future (weeks, months?). Read more...An increase of earthquakes began on 5 June this year when a seismic swarm of earthquakes started which totaled more than 2300 events by the end of the month. The quakes occurred concentrated in an area NE of the volcano and were volcano-tectonic in origin, likely caused by a magma intrusion at depth causing pressurization and fracturing of rocks. After the June swarm, the volcano returned to calm again first. New earthquakes started to appear in increased numbers from September and have been continuing. Different from in June, the quakes have been concentrated under the summit area of the volcano and been showing an upward trend in depth. 
Seismic swarm under Cayambe in June 2016 (IGEPN) [ less]
More on VolcanoDiscovery
 Latest quakes at Katla volcano: One of Iceland's most active and dangerous volcanoes is showing signs of unrest and statistically due for a new eruption. Earthquakes could give a clue.  Top 20 quakes in 2016: Several magnitude 7 quakes occurred in 2016 (but none above M8): Papua New Guinea, NZ, Ecuador, Solomon Islands, Sumatra, Chile, Alaska and others - nearly all major earthquakes were located near active subduction zones.
See the top 20 list of largest quakes in 2016 with this map.
|
