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Concepción volcano is a steep symmetrical stratovolcano with a perfect shape and one of the most active volcanoes of Nicaragua. During the past 100 years, it has been in a near-constant state of small to medium ash explosions at irregular intervals.
Together with its neighbor Madera volcano Concepción forms the NW half of the dumbbell-shaped island of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua. Both volcanoes are connected by a narrow isthmus.
Frequent explosive eruptions during the past decades have increased the height of its summit significantly (more than 100 m) and outdated the existing topographic maps. Because of the frequent ash eruptions, the upper half of the summit cone lacks vegetation.
The basaltic-to-dacitic Concepción volcano contains a steep-walled 250 m summit crater with a higher western rim. Flank vents are aligned on N-S-trending fractures and contain chains of spatter cones, cinder cones, lava domes, and maars on the NW, NE, SE, and southern sides. Some of these vents are found down to Lake Nicaragua.
stratovolcano 1700 m / 5,577 ft
Nicaragua, 11.54°N / -85.62°W Current status: restless (2 out of 5)
Concepción webcams / live data Concepción volcano books Concepción volcano eruptions:
2012, 2009-11, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 1999, 1988, 1985-86, 1984-85, 1983, 1982, 1978, 1977, 1973-74, 1963, 1962, 1961, 1957, 1951-55, 1948-50, 1944-45, 1935, 1929, 1928, 1921-26, 1918-19, 1907-10, 1902, 1891, 1884-86, 1883, 1800 ± 50 years, 770 BC ± 50 years (radiocarbon) Typical eruption style: intermittent small ash explosions
Last earthquakes nearby Latest satellite images
According to a 6 May news article, activity at Concepción had increased about three weeks prior and was characterized by fluctuating levels of seismicity and gas explosions. ...more
In a 8 May statement, INETER noted that seismic activity and gas explosions at Concepción had decreased since the day before; 15 gas explosions has been detected in a 24-hour period. By 24 May there had been a total of 987 gas explosions detected by the network since an unspecified date of increased activity. [less]
Our friend Andi who climbed Concepción on 5 Jan, writes: ...more
"degassing but there is ash fall on the towns on the north side as little as 3 days ago. The crater rim was very warm with fresh ash but no visibility as winds about 150km/h been bad weather here recently." [less]
Hawai'i and Kilauea volcano photos: Lava flows, lava lakes, eruptions and aerial images from Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawai'i throughout the years.
