Osorno Volcano
Updated: Oct 28, 2025 23:42 GMT -
stratovolcano
Southern Chile and Argentina (South America), -41.1°S / -72.49°W 
Summit height: 2652 m / 8,701 ft
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 22 Dec 2021 (seismic unrest)
Osorno volcano is a symmetrical, glacier-covered stratovolcano in southern Chile, rising above Todos los Santos and Llanquihué lakes.
Osorno is one of the most active volcanoes of Chile. Historical eruptions have often produced produced lava flows. Many eruptions have occurred from both summit and flank vents and fissures, the latter mostly on the west and SW sides. Lava flows from its eruptions have reached Todos los Santos and Llanquihué lakes.
While its historic activity was dominantly effusive, many explosive eruptions which generated pyroclastic flows and surges have been identified to have occurred during the past 14,000 years.
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Osorno volcano eruptions: 1869, 1855, 1851, 1837, 1834-35, 1790-91, 1765, 1719, 1644(?), 1640(?), 1575(?), 1310
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Background
Osorno volcano almost exclusively consists of basaltic to basaltic-andesitic lavas, with the exception of 2 small dacitic lava domes on the NW and SSE flanks.Geology of Osorno volcano
The present-day cone of Osorno was constructed partly above a roughly 250,000-year-old eroded stratovolcano, La Picada, which has a mostly buried 6-km-wide caldera. La Picada underlies Osorno on the NE and has postglacial maars and scoria cones.
Source: Smithsonian / GVP volcano information
Osorno Volcano Photos
Osorno stratovolcano, Chile (Photo: C.Utreras-DGEO)
Osorno stratovolcano, Chile (Photo: C.Utreras-DGEO)
Significant volcanic eruptions: Osorno volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Osorno has had at least 17 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 11 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1852 from Osorno volcano.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1852 from Osorno volcano.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Osorno volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Osorno can be found on the news page of Osorno volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | |||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2? | |||||
Discredited Eruption | ||||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2? | |||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | |||||
| Summit & SSW side (Negrillar de Ensenada) Historical obs./docs. | 3? | |||||
| SE base Historical obs./docs. | 2 | |||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | |||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | |||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | |||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | |||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | |||||
| ? | ||||||
| ? | ||||||
| ? | ||||||
| 4? | ||||||
| ? | ||||||
| ? | ||||||
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
Osorno Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Osorno volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Osorno occurred in 1869.
+How often does Osorno volcano erupt?
Since 1575 AD, Osorno volcano has had at least 11 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 41 years.
+When was the largest eruption of Osorno volcano?
The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Osorno volcano occurred around 420 AD. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.
Latest satellite images
Osorno 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).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Osorno volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Osorno volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Osorno volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Osorno volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Osorno volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Osorno volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Osorno volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Osorno volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Osorno volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Osorno volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Osorno volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Osorno volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Osorno volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Osorno volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Osorno volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Osorno volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Osorno volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Osorno volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Osorno volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Osorno volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Osorno volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Osorno volcano (scale of few kilometers)
