Tenerife Volcano

Updated: Jul 4, 2025 21:33 GMT - refresh

shield volcano

Canary Islands (Spain), 28.27°N / -16.64°W

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Summit height: 3715 m

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

Last update: 15 Nov 2024 (seismic swarm)

The large triangular island of Tenerife is composed of a complex of overlapping Miocene-to-Quaternary stratovolcanoes that have remained active into historical time.

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Typical eruption style: Explosive
Tenerife volcano eruptions: 1909, 1798, 1706, 1704, 1492, 1444?, 1396?, 1341?

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
Jul 3, 05:26 am (Universal Time)	1.2 16 km	26 km (16 mi) to the SE	SE Granadilla DE Abona.Itf	Info
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Jul 2, 09:36 pm (Universal Time)	0.4 7 km	15 km (9.5 mi) to the NE	SE LA Orotava.Itf	Info
Jul 2, 03:25 am (GMT +1)	0.7 11 km	5 km (3.1 mi) to the SW	NW Vilaflor DE Chasna.Itf	Info
Monday, June 30, 2025 GMT (4 quakes)
Jun 30, 07:07 am (Universal Time)	1.2 8 km	20 km (12 mi) to the E	N Fasnia.Itf	Info
Jun 30, 02:24 am (Universal Time)	0.5 3 km	15 km (9.3 mi) to the NE	SE LA Orotava.Itf	Info
Jun 30, 02:14 am (Universal Time)	0.1 7 km	15 km (9.3 mi) to the NE	SE LA Orotava.Itf	Info
Jun 30, 02:13 am (Universal Time)	0.9 4 km	15 km (9.5 mi) to the NE	SE LA Orotava.Itf	Info
Sunday, June 29, 2025 GMT (2 quakes)
Jun 29, 09:43 am (GMT +1)	1.4 3 km	17 km (10.4 mi) to the NE	W Arafo.Itf	Info
Jun 29, 05:22 am (GMT +1)	1.4 7 km	17 km (10.8 mi) to the E	W Arafo.Itf	Info

View recent quakes

Background

The NE-trending Cordillera Dorsal volcanic massif joins the Las Cañadas volcano on the SW side of Tenerife with older volcanoes, creating the largest volcanic complex of the Canary Islands. Controversy surrounds the formation of the dramatic 10 x 17 km Las Cañadas caldera, which is partially filled by 3715-m-high Teide stratovolcano, the highest peak in the Atlantic Ocean. The origin of the caldera has been considered to be due entirely or in part to either a massive landslide (in a manner similar to the earlier formation of the massive La Orotava and Guimar valleys in the Cordillera Dorsal) or due to major explosive eruptions. The most recent stage of activity beginning in the late Pleistocene included the construction of the Pico Viejo and Teide edifices. Tenerife was perhaps observed in eruption by Christopher Columbus, and several flank vents on the Canary Island's most active volcano have been active during historical time. Source: Smithsonian GVP

Tenerife Volcano Photos

Caldera Teneriffa Teide (c)

Volcanic Cone and small town beside it, near Mount Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands (Photo: WNomad)

The hydrothermaly altered rocks at the Mirador de Los Azulejo. Tenerife island. (Photo: Tobias Schorr)

Above the clouds framing El Teide volcano, Tenerife, Canary islands (Photo: Janka)

More photos

Significant volcanic eruptions: Tenerife volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Tenerife has had at least 42 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 5 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 4 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Tenerife volcano.

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

Date	Note	VEI	Damage
1909 Nov 18 - Nov 27	NW rift zone (Chinyero) Historical obs./docs.	2
1798 Jun 9 - Sep 14 ?	SW flank of Pico Viejo (Chahorra) Historical obs./docs.	3
1706 May 5 - Jun 13	NW rift zone (Garachico) Historical obs./docs.	2
1706 May 5 (eruption 1706 May 5 - Jun 13)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	2	heavy	Info
1706 May 5: Start Date: 1706 May 5. Stop Date: 1706 Jun 13. Confirmed, VEI 2. Historical Observations. NW rift zone (Garachico). (Reference #2432) [...] it was related with a fissure-type eruption that was located closer to Garachico. (reference #12938) In 1706 lava from Tenerife buried the port town and harbor of Garachico, at the time the finest most frequented harbor on the island. (p. 278) (reference #6996) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #6996 Blong, R.J. (1984): Volcanic Hazards. A Sourcebook on the Effects of Eruptions. #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. #12938 Galindo, I., Romero, C., Martin-Gonzalez, E., Vegas, J., Sanchez, N. (2021): A Review on Historical Tsunamis in the Canary Islands: Implications for Tsunami Risk Reduction. Geosciences. 2021; 11(5):222. DOI: 10.3390/geosciences11050222 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1704 Dec 31 - 1705 Mar 27	NW rift zone (Siete Fuentes, Fasnia, Güímar) Historical obs./docs.	2
1492 AD Aug 24 or before	NW rift zone (Montaña Boca Cangrejo) Historical obs./docs.	?
?? 1444 AD	Uncertain Eruption	?
1430 AD	Discredited Eruption
?? 1396 ±3 y. AD	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 1341 AD	Uncertain Eruption	?
1060 ±100 y. AD	NW rift zone (Montaña Reventada)	?
800 ±150 y. AD	Pico de Tiede	?
700 ? AD	NE rift zone (Volcán Negro)	?
240 ±150 y. AD	NW flank of Pico Viejo (Roques Blancos)	?
190 ? AD	NW rift zone (Cuevas Negras)	?
90 ±75 y. AD	NW rift zone (Los Hornitos)	?
40 ? AD	Teide-Pico Viejo complex	?
30 ±150 y. AD	NW flank of Pico Viejo (Roques Blancos)	?
80 ±40 y. BC	Montaña Blanca, Pico Viejo	4+
520 ? BC	Teide-Pico Viejo complex	?
580 ±200 y. BC	NW flank of Teide (El Boquerón)	?
670 ±200 y. BC	NW rift zone (Volcán el Ciego)	?

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

Tenerife Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Tenerife volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Tenerife occurred in 1909.

+How often does Tenerife volcano erupt?

Since 1492 AD, Tenerife volcano has had at least 5 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 107 years.

+How active is Tenerife volcano at present?

Tenerife volcano is occasionally active: Since 1900, it has had one eruption, which occurred in 1909.

+When was the largest eruption of Tenerife volcano?

The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Tenerife volcano occurred around 80 BC. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Tenerife 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).