TheJuan Fernández hotspot is avolcanichotspot located in the southeasternPacific Ocean. The hotspot created theJuan Fernández Ridge which includes theJuan Fernández Archipelago and a longseamount chain that is beingsubducted in thePeru–Chile Trench at the site ofPapudo giving origin to theNorte Chico Volcanic Gap.[1]
The Juan Fernández hotspot volcano group falls within the Southern Pacific Volcanic Regions. It forms the western end of the Juan Fernández Ridge, a chain ofvolcanic islands andseamounts on theNazca plate.[2] The Juan Fernández Ridge runs for about 800 km (500 mi) in a west–east direction from the Juan Fernández hotspot to thePeru–Chile Trench between the latitudes of 32-34° S before subducting beneath the South American plate nearValparaíso.[3]
The Juan Fernández hotspot volcano group includes three volcanoes which were active during thePleistocene, namelyRobinson Crusoe,Alexander Selkirk and Seamount JF6.[4]
The Juan Fernández hotspot volcano group was formed as part of the Juan Fernández Ridge. The ridge was formed by upwelling of a deep plume of hot material from themantle of the Earth. The ridge forms a deep underwater corridor about 3,900 m (12,800 ft) below sea level, and is made up of four island groups, with multiple summits. The ocean floor around the ridge is estimated to be 22 to 37 million years old.[5][6][7]
The last reported eruption on the hotspot was in February 1839 when a submarine eruption occurred on Seamount JF6 at the eastern end of the Juan Fernández Islands. However, the reports have been considered highly suspect by the Global Volcanism Program.[8]
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