Huaynaputina Volcano

Updated: Oct 18, 2025 15:35 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano

southern Peru, -16.61°S / -70.85°W

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Summit height: 4850 m / 15,912 ft

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

Last update: 5 Mar 2025 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

Huaynaputina volcano (its name meaning "new volcano") is a small volcano located in southern Peru 26 km south of Ubinas volcano. It was the site of the largest historical eruption in South America, which occurred in 1600 and erupted an estimated 30 cubic km of dacitic tephra, including ash fall and pyroclastic flow deposits. Its size can be compared to the 1883 Krakatau eruption.
Prior to the 1600 eruption, it had not even been known as a volcano and was described as a "low ridge in the center of a Sierra".

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News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: explosive
Huaynaputina volcano eruptions: 1600, 7750 BC ± 200 years

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Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location

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Background

Huaynaputina volcano does not form a prominent topographic elevation. It is located inside a 2.5 km wide older caldera that was deepened by glacial erosion. The volcano consists of 3 overlapping cinder cones containing up to 100 m deep craters. These cones formed during the 1600 AD eruption. The flanks of the older edifice are deeply covered by ash deposits from the same eruption.

Significant volcanic eruptions: Huaynaputina volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Huaynaputina has had only one confirmed historic eruption in 1600 AD and one around 7750 BC inferred from geological evidence.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Huaynaputina volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Huaynaputina can be found on the news page of Huaynaputina volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths
1600 AD Feb 17 ±1 d. - Mar 6 ?	Summit and south flank Historical obs./docs.	6
1600 AD Feb 19 (eruption 1600 AD Feb 17 ±1 d. - Mar 6 ?)	Historical obs./docs.	6	1,500	Info
1600 AD Feb 19: All or most of the inhabitants of at least 11 villages were killed. ~1,200 killed at Omate, ~200 in other villages and 30 by seismic activity. (reference #1412) About 1,500 persons were killed, excluding fatalities from lahars down the Rio Tambo or earthquakes in Arequipa. (reference #9675) Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
7750 ±200 y. 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

Eruptions of Huaynaputina volcano

1600 AD Plinian eruption of Huaynaputina volcano
The eruption of Huaynaputina volcano in 1600 AD was the largest historically recorded eruption in South America and one of the largest in the world during the past 2000 years. It erupted up to 30 cu km of tephra (or ca. 12 km3 of magma) (VEI 6) and is comparable to the Plinian eruption of Krakatau in 1883. The pumice and ash layer from the eruption covers an area of 360,000 km2.
This powerful eruption was fed by fissures and produced pyroclastic flows and surges that traveled 13 km to the east and SE. Hot mud flows (lahars) reached the Pacific Ocean, 120 km away. ...more info

Huaynaputina Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Huaynaputina volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Huaynaputina occurred in 1600 AD.

+How often does Huaynaputina volcano erupt?

Since 1600 AD, Huaynaputina volcano has had at least 1 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 425 years.

+When was the largest eruption of Huaynaputina volcano?

The largest eruption of Huaynaputina volcano in historic times occurred in 1600 AD. It ranks as a plinian eruption with a magnitude 6 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale. Eruption of this size are often catastrophic on a regional scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Huaynaputina 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).