Vulcano Volcano
Updated: May 21, 2025 21:07 GMT -
Stratovolcano
Eolian Islands, Italy, 38.4°N / 14.96°E 
Summit height: 500 m
Current status: restless (2 out of 5)
Last update: 22 Dec 2021
View of the crater of La Fossa volcano, Vulcano Island.
Vulcano, named after the Roman god of Fire, is the southernmost of the Eolian Islands north of Sicily, Italy. Vulcano has an active volcano (also called the Fossa) that has had frequent eruptions documented since Ancient times.
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Vulcano volcano eruptions: Frequent eruptions since Ancient and Medieval times; during the last 300 years eruptions in 1727, 1731, 1771, 1775(?), 1780, 1786(?), 1812(?), 1822(?), 1831(?), 1873, 1886, 1888, 1892(?)
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 11:17 pm (Universal Time) | 0.4 9.8 km | 7.8 km (4.9 mi) to the SE | Italy: 9.5 km SE Da Porto Di Ponente (Vulcano) (ME) | Info | |
| May 18, 11:53 am (Universal Time) | 0.6 7.9 km | 7.1 km (4.4 mi) to the SW | Isole Eolie (Messina) | Info | |
| Thursday, May 8, 2025 GMT (4 quakes) | |||||
| May 8, 11:02 pm (Universal Time) | 1.3 11 km | 24 km (15 mi) to the NW | Isole Eolie (Messina) | Info | |
| May 9, 12:35 am (GMT +2) | 2.8 12 km | 23 km (14 mi) to the W | Isole Eolie (Messina) | Info | |
| May 8, 10:16 pm (Universal Time) | 2.1 9.8 km | 23 km (14 mi) to the NW | Isole Eolie (Messina) | Info | |
| May 8, 06:49 am (Universal Time) | 1.1 10.5 km | 29 km (18 mi) to the SE | Costa Siciliana Nord-Orientale (Messina) | Info | |
Background
Vulcano was constructed during six volcanic stages during the past 136,000 years. Two overlapping calderas, the 2.5-km-wide Caldera del Piano on the SE and the 4-km-wide Caldera della Fossa on the NW, were formed at about 100,000 and 24,000-15,000 years ago, respectively, and volcanism has migrated to the north over time.La Fossa cone, active throughout the Holocene and the location of most of the historical eruptions of Vulcano, occupies the 3-km-wide Caldera della Fossa at the NW end of the elongated, 3 x 7 km island. The Vulcanello lava platform forms a low, roughly circular peninsula on the northern tip of Vulcano that was formed as an island beginning in 183 BC and was connected to Vulcano in about 1550 AD. Vulcanello is capped by three pyroclastic cones and was active intermittently until the 16th century. The latest eruption from Vulcano consisted of explosive activity from the Fossa cone from 1898 to 1900. Source: Smithsonian GVP
Vulcano Volcano Photos
Sulfur deposits and escaping gas from fumaroles on Vulcano volcano's La Fossa crater rim. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Aerial view of Vulcano Island. The left older part of the island is an older caldera - the remnant of a dissected stratovolcano, the right part is a younger caldera where...
Salina's volcanoes Monte dei Porri and Monte Fossa delle Felci in the background against the approaching storm front. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Panorama view over Vulcano and Vulcanello in the foreground, Salina, Lipari, Panarea (near the rainbow) and in the distant background, Stromboli. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Significant volcanic eruptions: Vulcano volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Vulcano has had at least 37 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 27 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 9 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Vulcano volcano.
Additionally, there are 9 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Vulcano volcano.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Vulcano volcano since around 1000 AD. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Vulcano can be found on the news page of Vulcano volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Discredited Eruption | ||||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | ||||
| Fossa Historical obs./docs. | 3 | |||||
| Fossa Historical obs./docs. | 3 | |||||
| Fossa Historical obs./docs. | 3 | |||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 1? | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 2? | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 1? | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 3 | ||||
| Fossa Historical obs./docs. | 2 | |||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | ||||
| Fossa Historical obs./docs. | 3 | |||||
| Fossa Historical obs./docs. | 3 | |||||
| Forgia Vecchia II and Fossa Historical obs./docs. | 3 | |||||
| Fossa Historical obs./docs. | ? | |||||
| Fossa Historical obs./docs. | ? | |||||
Historical obs./docs. | ? | |||||
Historical obs./docs. | 3 | |||||
Historical obs./docs. | ? | |||||
| Vulcanello III Historical obs./docs. | 3 | |||||
Historical obs./docs. | 3 | |||||
| Fossa | ? | |||||
| Vulcanello | 2? | |||||
| 2? | ||||||
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
Vulcano Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Vulcano volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Vulcano occurred during 1888 - 1890.
+How often does Vulcano volcano erupt?
Since 475 BC, Vulcano volcano has had at least 27 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 93 years.
Many eruptions of Vulcano have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 43 out of 2500 years until now. In other words, Vulcano has been active at least one in 58.1 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Vulcano is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.
+When was the largest eruption of Vulcano volcano?
The largest eruption of Vulcano volcano in historic times occurred in 183 BC. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.
Latest satellite images
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Vulcano 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 Vulcano volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Vulcano volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Vulcano volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Vulcano volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Vulcano volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Vulcano volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Vulcano volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Vulcano volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Vulcano volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Vulcano volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Vulcano volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Vulcano volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Vulcano volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Vulcano volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Vulcano volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Vulcano volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Vulcano volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Vulcano volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Vulcano volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Vulcano volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Vulcano volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Vulcano volcano (scale of few kilometers)
