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Sangay Volcano

Updated: Mar 28, 2024 09:30 GMT -
Stratovolcano 5230 m (17,159 ft)
Ecuador, -2°S / -78.34°W
Current status: erupting (4 out of 5)
Last update: 25 Mar 2024 (Volcanic Ash Advisory)
Sangay volcano during an eruption in Jan 2020 seen from Macas
Sangay volcano during an eruption in Jan 2020 seen from Macas

Sangay volcano is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world and one of Ecuador's most active ones. Located isolated east of the Andean crest, with it's perfect steep cone shape and glacier-covered top, it towers majestically at 5230 m high above the Amazonian rainforest.

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Typical eruption style: Explosive. In historic time: frequent, intermittent strombolian activity
Sangay volcano eruptions: 1934-ongoing (as of 2020), 1728-1916, 1628 (first observation) - ?

Latest nearby earthquakes

No recent earthquakes
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Background

Sangay has had frequent eruptions in historic times, mostly of strombolian type. The present-day volcano was built within horseshoe-shaped calderas of two previous edifices, which were destroyed by collapse to the east, producing large debris avalanches that reached the Amazonian lowlands. The modern edifice dates back to at least 14,000 years ago.
Sangay towers above the tropical jungle on the east side; on the other sides flat plains of ash from the volcano have been sculpted by heavy rains into steep-walled canyons up to 600 m deep. The earliest report of a historical eruption was in 1628. More or less continuous eruptions were reported from 1728 until 1916, and again from 1934 to the present. The more or less constant eruptive activity has caused frequent changes to the morphology of the summit crater complex.

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Source: GVP Sangay volcano information

Latest satellite images

Sangay satellite image sat1Sangay satellite image sat2

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