Copahue Volcano

Updated: May 22, 2025 05:20 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano

Chile/Argentina, -37.85°S / -71.17°W

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Summit height: 2997 m / 9,833 ft

Current status: erupting (4 out of 5)

Last update: 14 Dec 2024 (Volcanic Ash Advisory)

Copahue volcano is an active stratovolcano in central Chile at the border with Argentina. The volcano has a 6.5 x 8.5 km wide caldera with several craters aligned on a 2 km ENE-WSW trending zone.
The eastern summit crater has an acid 300 m wide crater lake known as El Agrio or Del Agrio which has intense hydrothermal activity.
Infrequent mild-to-moderate explosive eruptions occurred in historic time. Eruptions in the last century have ejected pyroclastic rocks and chilled liquid sulfur fragments. The last one was in 2000.

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Copahue webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes | Volcano videos

Typical eruption style: explosive
Copahue volcano eruptions: 2015-16, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2001(?), 2000, 1992, 1961, 1937, 1867(?), 1759(?), 1750

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Background

Volcán Copahue is an elongated composite cone constructed along the Chile-Argentina border within the 6.5 x 8.5 km wide Trapa-Trapa caldera that formed between 0.6 and 0.4 million years ago near the NW margin of the 20 x 15 km Pliocene Caviahue (Del Agrio) caldera. and displays intense fumarolic activity. Acidic hot springs occur below the eastern outlet of the crater lake, contributing to the acidity of the Río Agrio, and another geothermal zone is located within Caviahue caldera about 7 km NE of the summit.
(Smithsonian / GVP volcano information)

Significant volcanic eruptions: Copahue volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Copahue has had at least 21 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 19 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1759 from Copahue volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Copahue volcano since around 1000 BC. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Copahue can be found on the news page of Copahue volcano.

Date	Note	VEI
2024 Oct 16 ±1 d. - Oct 27 ±1 d.	Historical obs./docs.	?
2021 Jul 2 - Nov 6	Historical obs./docs.	1
2020 Jun 16 - Nov 2	Agrio Crater Historical obs./docs.	2
2019 Aug 2 - Nov 12 ?	Agrio Crater Historical obs./docs.	2
2017 Jun 4 - 2018 Dec 7	El Agrio Crater Historical obs./docs.	1
2015 Sep 18 ±3 d. - 2017 Feb 22	Agrio Crater Historical obs./docs.	2
2014 Jul 4 - Dec 2	El Agrio Crater Historical obs./docs.	1
2012 Dec 22 - 2013 Dec 10	Agrio Crater Historical obs./docs.	2
2012 Jul 17 - Jul 19	El Agrio Crater Historical obs./docs.	2
2000 Jul 1 - Oct 18	Agrio Crater Historical obs./docs.	2
1995 Sep 16 ±15 d.	Agrio Crater Historical obs./docs.	2
1994 Dec 16 ±15 d.	Agrio Crater Historical obs./docs.	2
1992 Jul 22 - 1993 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Agrio Crater Historical obs./docs.	2
1961 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1960 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Historical obs./docs.	?
1944	Historical obs./docs.	?
1937	Historical obs./docs.	2?
1867 ?	Historical obs./docs.	2?
?? 1759 ?	Uncertain Eruption	?
1750 ?	Historical obs./docs.	2
250 ? BC		?

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Copahue Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Copahue volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Copahue occurred in 2024.

+How often does Copahue volcano erupt?

Since 1750, Copahue volcano has had at least 19 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 14.5 years.

+How active is Copahue volcano at present?

Copahue volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 20 eruptions, and been active during 20 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Copahue has been in eruption one in 6.3 years on average. The last eruption was in 2024 and ended 7 months ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Copahue volcano?

The largest eruption of Copahue volcano in historic times occurred in 2020. It ranks as a strombolian to vulcanian eruption with a magnitude 2 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Copahue Volcano Maps

Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).