| Calbuco | |
|---|---|
 Calbuco, prior to its recent eruption, viewed from the north alongside Road 225 on the shores ofLlanquihue Lake. (February 11, 2010) | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,015 m (6,611 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 1,946 m (6,385 ft)[1] |
| Listing | Ultra |
| Coordinates | 41°19′48″S72°37′06″W / 41.33000°S 72.61833°W /-41.33000; -72.61833[1] |
| Geography | |
  Calbuco Chile | |
| Location | Los Lagos,Chile |
| Parent range | Andes |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | Pleistocene |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Volcanic zone | South Volcanic Zone |
| Last eruption | April 2015 |
Calbuco (/kɑːlˈbuːkoʊ/kahl-BOO-koh;Spanish:Volcán Calbuco,pronounced[bolˈkaŋkalˈβuko]) is astratovolcano in southernChile, located southeast ofLlanquihue Lake and northwest ofChapo Lake, in theLos Lagos Region, and close to the cities ofPuerto Varas andPuerto Montt. With an elevation of 2,015 meters above sea level, the volcano and the surrounding area are protected within theLlanquihue National Reserve.
The most recent eruption, a major VEI 4 event,[2] happened with little warning on April 22–23, 2015, followed by a smaller eruption on April 30. This was Calbuco's first activity since 1972.[3][4][5]
Calbuco is located partly in Puerto Varas Commune and partly in Puerto Montt Commune. It lies 49 km from the city of Puerto Varas and 69 km from Puerto Montt. Its name is thought to come from theMapuche words "kallfü" (blue) and "ko" (water), meaning "blue water".[6] It shares the name withCalbuco Island in nearbyReloncaví Sound as well as the city andcommune ofCalbuco, although it is not located there.
Calbuco is a very explosiveandesitevolcano whoselavas usually contain 55 to 60%silicon dioxide (SiO2).[7] It is elongated in a SW-NE direction and is capped by a 400-500 meter wide summit crater. Its complex evolution included the collapse of an intermediate edifice during the latePleistocene that produced a debris avalanche that reached Llanquihue Lake.[8]
Calbuco has had 36 confirmed eruptions during theHolocene, 13 of which have been recorded in historical times. 20th century eruptions took place in 1906, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1917, 1929, 1932, 1945, 1961, and 1972. A series of three eruptions occurred from April 22–30, 2015.[9]
The 1893–95 Calbuco eruption was one of the largest ever to take place in southernChile, with debris ejected to distances of eight kilometres, accompanied by voluminous hotlahars.[citation needed] The 1893 eruption disrupted the daily life ofGerman settlers in eastern Llanquihue Lake. In this area potato fields,cattle andapiculture were negatively impacted. Cattle were evacuated from the area and settlers lobbied the government ofJorge Montt to be relocated elsewhere.[10]
In the strong explosions of April 1917, alava dome formed in the crater accompanied by hot lahars. Another short explosive eruption in January 1929 also included an apparentpyroclastic flow and alava flow.[citation needed]
The major eruption of 1961 sent ash columns 12–15 km high, produced plumes that dispersed mainly to the south east and emitted two lava flows. There was a minor, four-hour eruption on August 26, 1972. Strong fumarolic emission from the main crater was observed on August 12, 1996.[8]
The most recent eruption happened in April 2015, when on April 22, the volcano suddenly erupted with little warning, sending a large ash column into the atmosphere; another eruption occurred in the early hours of April 23. A smaller eruption occurred on April 30. The eruptions ranked as a 4 on theVolcanic Explosivity Index.[3][4][5] The volcano returned to the lowest alert level on August 18, 2015.[11] The ash of the eruption dispersed nutrients into the sea which may have contributed to unleashing thealgal bloom of 2016.[12]
