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Aracar Volcano

Updated: Mar 29, 2024 06:44 GMT -
stratovolcano 6082 m / 19,954 feet
Northern Chile, Bolivia and Argentina (South America), -24.25°S / -67.77°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)

Aracar volcano is a probably still active stratovolcano in NW Argentina close to the border with Chile. The volcano has a well-preserved 1.5 km wide summit crater with a small crater lake and steep eroded flanks. It is not known whether there has been activity in the Holocene (past 12,000 years).

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Typical eruption style: explosive
Aracar volcano eruptions: 1993 (?)

Latest nearby earthquakes

TimeMag. / DepthDistance / Location
Mar 24, 02:15 am (Salta)
Mar 24, 05:15 GMT
3.1

226 km
6.2 km (3.8 mi) to the E Salta, Argentina
I FELT IT
Info
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 GMT (1 quake)
Mar 20, 02:17 pm (Santiago)
Mar 20, 18:17 GMT
3.0

239 km
17 km (10.3 mi) to the W Chile: 71 km al S de Socaire Info
Saturday, March 16, 2024 GMT (1 quake)
Mar 16, 12:13 pm (Salta)
Mar 16, 15:13 GMT
3.4

245 km
18 km (11 mi) to the E Salta, Argentina Info
Friday, March 15, 2024 GMT (2 quakes)
Mar 15, 02:35 pm (Salta)
Mar 15, 17:35 GMT
3.6

231 km
26 km (16 mi) to the E Salta, Argentina Info
Mar 15, 11:24 am (Santiago)
Mar 15, 14:24 GMT
2.7

235 km
9.9 km (6.1 mi) to the N Chile: 65 Km Al S De Socaire Info
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 GMT (1 quake)
Mar 26, 09:26 pm (Salta)
Mar 27, 00:26 GMT
2.5

217 km
6.1 km (3.8 mi) to the E Salta, Argentina Info

Background

The volcano was constructed during 3 eruptive cycles dating back to the Pliocene. The andesitic stratovolcano overlies dacitic lava domes. Lava flows are found at the base of the volcano below 4500 m elevation are relatively well preserved, but there are no lava flows on the upper flanks, which are often an indication of youthful activity. (Source: GVP volcano information)

Possible eruption in 1993
There were reports about ash columns from the summit on 28 March 1993, but it is not known whether these were rockfall dust or eruption plumes.

Latest satellite images

Aracar satellite image sat1Aracar satellite image sat2

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