Fernandina Volcano

Updated: Jul 31, 2025 19:58 GMT - refresh

Shield volcano

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, -0.37°S / -91.55°W

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Summit height: 1476 m / 4,842 ft

Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)

Last update: 20 Mar 2025 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

The Fernandina caldera seen on July 4, 1968, about three weeks after a major explosive eruption that was followed by collapse of the caldera floor. Collapse occurred incrementally and asymmetrically, ranging up to about 350 m at the SE end of the caldera, which contains the caldera lake. Photo by Tom Simkin, 1968 (Smithsonian Institution).

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Typical eruption style: Effusive, basaltic fissure eruptions
Fernandina volcano eruptions: 2024, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2009

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Background

Fernandina, the most active of Galápagos volcanoes and the one closest to the Galápagos mantle plume, is a basaltic shield volcano with a deep 5 x 6.5 km summit caldera. The volcano displays the classic "overturned soup bowl" profile of Galápagos shield volcanoes. Its caldera is elongated in a NW-SE direction and formed during several episodes of collapse. Circumferential fissures surround the caldera and were instrumental in growth of the volcano.
Reporting has been poor in this uninhabited western end of the archipelago, and even a 1981 eruption was not witnessed at the time. In 1968 the caldera floor dropped 350 m following a major explosive eruption. Subsequent eruptions, mostly from vents located on or near the caldera boundary faults, have produced lava flows inside the caldera as well as those in 1995 that reached the coast from a SW-flank vent. Collapse of a nearly 1 cu km section of the east caldera wall during an eruption in 1988 produced a debris-avalanche deposit that covered much of the caldera floor and absorbed the caldera lake.
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Source: Smithsonian / GVP volcano information

Significant volcanic eruptions: Fernandina volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Fernandina has had at least 33 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 29 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Fernandina volcano since around 1900. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Fernandina can be found on the news page of Fernandina volcano.

Date	Note	VEI
2024 Mar 2 -	SE flank Historical obs./docs.	1
2020 Jan 12 - Jan 13	Historical obs./docs.	0
2018 Jun 16 - Jun 21	Historical obs./docs.	1
2017 Sep 4 - Sep 8 ±1 d.	SSW caldera rim and La Cumbre crater Historical obs./docs.	2
2009 Apr 10 - Apr 28 ?	SW flank (400 m) Historical obs./docs.	2
2005 May 13 - May 29 ?	South caldera rim Historical obs./docs.	2
1995 Jan 25 - Apr 8 ?	SW flank Historical obs./docs.	2
1991 Apr 19 - Apr 24	Base of ESE and NW caldera wall Historical obs./docs.	2?
1988 Sep 14 - Sep 16	East caldera wall Historical obs./docs.	2?
1984 Mar 30	NW corner of caldera Historical obs./docs.	1
1981 Aug 1 ±270 d.	South caldera rim Historical obs./docs.	0
1978 Aug 8 - Aug 26	NW caldera bench Historical obs./docs.	2
1977 Mar 23 - Mar 27	SE caldera bench Historical obs./docs.	1
1973 Dec 9 - Dec 16 ±1 d.	ESE caldera wall Historical obs./docs.	2
1972 Jun 4 ±45 d.	SE caldera bench Historical obs./docs.	0
1968 Jun 11 - Jul 4 or before	West caldera wall Historical obs./docs.	4
1968 May 21 - May 23 ±1 d.	ESE flank (600 m) Historical obs./docs.	2
1961 Mar 21 ±1 d. - Sep 16 ±15 d.	SE flank Historical obs./docs.	2
1958 Sep 16 ±15 d. - Dec 30 or later	SE, SW and west caldera rim Historical obs./docs.	2
1937 Mar - Apr	Historical obs./docs.	?
1927 Dec 13 or before	South flank near Punta Mangle Historical obs./docs.	?
1926	Historical obs./docs.	?
1917 May 14	Cape Hammond (SW flank) Historical obs./docs.	?

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

Fernandina Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Fernandina volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Fernandina occurred in 2024.

+How often does Fernandina volcano erupt?

Since 1813, Fernandina volcano has had at least 29 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 7.3 years.

+How active is Fernandina volcano at present?

Fernandina volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 22 eruptions, and been active during 22 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Fernandina has been in eruption one in 5.7 years on average. The last eruption was in 2024 and ended 15 months ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Fernandina volcano?

The largest eruption of Fernandina volcano in historic times occurred in 1968. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

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See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

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Fernandina 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).