Isluga Volcano

Updated: Aug 29, 2025 11:08 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano

Northern Chile, Bolivia and Argentina (South America), -19.15°S / -68.83°W

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Summit height: 5550+ m / 18,208 ft

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

Last update: 4 Mar 2022

Volcán Isluga volcano is a broad stratovolcano in northern Chile 7 km west of the Bolivian border and forms the western end of a group of volcanoes extending to Tata Sabaya volcano in Bolivia. Isluga volcano is part of the 175,000 hectares Isluga National Park.
Isluga's summit contains a morphologically young, 400 m wide crater at the western end of the elongated, snow-covered summit region. Many lava flows with distinct levees can be seen on the southern flank and in 1878, lava flows destroyed several towns. At present, there is fumarolic activity at Isluga volcano, the last confirmed eruption was a small explosive eruption in 1913.

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News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: explosive
Isluga volcano eruptions: 1960(?), 1913(?), 1885, 1878, 1877, 1869, 1868, 1863

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Background

Recent eruptions were phreatomagmatic and produced surges whose deposits can be found around the active crater. Holocene lava flows cover the northernmost ridge of the volcano.
An older glaciated dacite flow from the northwest side of the volcano has been dated at at 96,000 years. Lavas from Isluga overlie rocks from a dissected volcano (Quimsachatas) to the north and northeast, which erupted 566,000 years ago.
(From: Wörner et al (2000), "Geochronology (40Ar/39Ar, K-Ar and He-exposure ages) of Cenozoic magmatic rocks from Northern Chile (18-22°S): implications for magmatism and tectonic evolution of the central Andes", Rev. geol. Chile vol.27 n.2

Eruptions of Isluga volcano
Major eruptions occurred in 1868, 1869, 1877, and 1878, and smaller eruptions in 1863, 1885 and 1913. The activity reported in 1960 is uncertain.

Significant volcanic eruptions: Isluga volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Isluga has had at least 7 confirmed eruptions, all documented by historical records or observations. There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1960 from Isluga volcano.

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

Date	Note	VEI
?? 1960 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Uncertain Eruption	2?
1913	Historical obs./docs.	2
1885	Historical obs./docs.	1?
1878 Feb	Historical obs./docs.	2
1877	Historical obs./docs.	2?
1869 Aug	Historical obs./docs.	2
1868	Historical obs./docs.	2?
1863 Aug	Historical obs./docs.	1?

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

Isluga Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Isluga volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Isluga occurred in 1913.

+How often does Isluga volcano erupt?

Since 1863, Isluga volcano has had at least 7 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 23.1 years.

+How active is Isluga volcano at present?

Isluga volcano is occasionally active: Since 1900, it has had one eruption, which occurred in 1913.

+When was the largest eruption of Isluga volcano?

The largest eruption of Isluga volcano in historic times occurred in 1913. 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

Isluga 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).