Llaima volcano, a prominent stratovolcano in Chile’s Araucanía Region, is one of the country’s most active. Characterised by its conical shape and frequent Strombolian eruptions, Llaima exhibits a diverse range of volcanic activity, including lava flows, ashfall, and pyroclastic flows. Its history reveals a pattern of intermittent explosive events punctuated by periods of quiescence. The volcano’s location within Conguillío National Park adds another layer of complexity, as eruptions can significantly impact the surrounding araucaria forests and diverse ecosystems.
| Location: | Araucanía, Chile |
| Coordinates: | -38.700257, -71.728592 |
| Volcano Type: | Stratovolcano |
Llaima’s Location
Llaima’s Latest Status
2024: Not Active.
Llaima’s Eruptive History
| Year | Eruptive Activity |
|---|---|
| 1640 | Major eruption with extensive lava flows that traveled long distances down the volcano’s flanks, potentially impacting nearby valleys and settlements. |
| 1751 | Significant explosive eruption generating a high eruption column with substantial ashfall. Lava flows also erupted, potentially causing damage to surrounding areas. |
| 1766 | Eruption primarily characterized by effusive activity, with lava flows dominating the eruptive style. |
| 1790 | Major explosive eruption producing a large ash plume and potentially pyroclastic flows. Limited historical records make it difficult to determine the full extent of the eruption’s impact. |
| 1864 | Eruption with significant ashfall impacting a wide area. Lava flows also erupted, likely modifying the volcano’s morphology. |
| 1874 | Eruption with lava flows, potentially similar in style to the 1766 and 1908 events. |
| 1887 | Explosive eruption generating a significant ash plume and causing ashfall in surrounding regions. |
| 1908 | Eruption dominated by lava flows, potentially similar in style to the 1766 and 1874 events. |
| 1927 | Significant explosive eruption with ashfall reaching distant areas. Pyroclastic flows traveled down the volcano’s flanks, potentially impacting nearby valleys. |
| 1930 | Eruption with lava flows, potentially similar in style to the 1766, 1874, and 1908 events. |
| 1937 | Eruption producing ashfall and pyroclastic flows, which may have posed a hazard to nearby communities. |
| 1945 | Minor eruption with limited activity, possibly involving ash emissions and small lava flows. |
| 1956 | Major eruption with lava flows, ashfall, and pyroclastic flows. This eruption caused significant damage to surrounding areas, including infrastructure and farmland. |
| 1957 | Continued activity from 1956 with lava flows and ashfall, further impacting the region and prolonging the disruption caused by the initial eruption. |
| 1974 | Minor eruption with limited activity, possibly involving ash emissions and small lava flows. |
| 1994 | Eruption with lava flows that descended the volcano’s slopes and ash emissions that affected local communities. The eruption also caused forest fires, impacting the surrounding ecosystem within Conguillío National Park. |
| 2003 | Minor eruption with ash emissions, potentially causing minor disruption to local air travel and communities. |
| 2008 | Eruption characterized by ash emissions and Strombolian activity, generating a lava fountain that ejected incandescent material. This eruption prompted evacuations of nearby communities due to the potential hazards from ashfall and lava flows. |
| 2009 | Continued activity from 2008 with ash emissions and Strombolian explosions, prolonging the disruption caused by the initial eruption. |
Llaima Monitoring
For monitoring of this volcano, please refer to SERNAGEOMIN.
Llaima Images
