| Villarrica Volcano | |
|---|---|
| Ruka Pillañ | |
%2c_Volc%25C3%25A1n_Villarrica.jpg) View of Villarrica Volcano | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,860 m (9,380 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 1,575 m (5,167 ft)[1] |
| Listing | Region high point Ultra |
| Coordinates | 39°25′15″S71°56′21″W / 39.42083°S 71.93917°W /-39.42083; -71.93917[1] |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Place of Wealth |
| Language of name | Spanish |
| Geography | |
  Villarrica Volcano Location in Chile | |
| Location | SouthernChile |
| Parent range | Andes |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | <Upper Pleistocene |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Volcanic belt | South Volcanic Zone |
| Last eruption | 2020 |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1883,Chilean Army |
| Easiest route | Villarrica ski centre – Piedra Negra |
Villarrica (/ˌviːəˈriːkə/VEE-ə-REE-kə) (Spanish:Volcán Villarrica,Mapudungun:Ruka Pillañ) is one ofChile's most activevolcanoes, rising above thelake andtown of the same name, 750 km (470 mi) south ofSantiago.[2] It is also known asRucapillán, aMapuche word meaning "great spirit's house" or " the demon's house". It is the westernmost of three largestratovolcanoes that trend northwest to southeast obliquely perpendicular to theAndean chain along theMocha-Villarrica Fault Zone,[3] and along withQuetrupillán and the Chilean portion ofLanín, are protected withinVillarrica National Park. Guided ascents are popular during summer months.
Villarrica, with itslava ofbasaltic-andesitic composition, is one of a small number worldwide known to have an active (but in this case intermittent)lava lake within itscrater. The volcano usually generatesstrombolian eruptions with ejection ofincandescentpyroclasts and lava flows. Rainfall plus melted snow andglacier ice can cause massivelahars (mud and debris flows), such as during the eruptions of 1964 and 1971.
Villarrica is one of 9 volcanoes currently monitored by theDeep Earth Carbon Degassing Project. The project is collecting data on thecarbon dioxide andsulphur dioxide emission rates fromsubaerial volcanoes.[4]
Villarica stands just east of theChilean Central Valley as the westernmost of an alignment of three largestratovolcanoes. The alignment is attributed to the existence of an old fracture in the crust, the North West-South East trendingMocha-Villarrica Fault Zone,[3] the other volcanoes in the chain,Quetrupillán andLanín, are far less active. The alignment is unusual as it crosses the N-S runningLiquiñe-Ofqui Fault, along which several active volcanoes are aligned.[5]
Villarrica covers an area of 400 km2 and has an estimated volume of 250 km3. It contains volcanic caves and about 26scoria cones. The constant degassing at the lava lake turns the otherwise quite effusive lava more viscous, heightening its explosive potential. Two largeignimbrite layers are visible; the Licán Ignimbrite and the more recent Pucón Ignimbrite.[5]
Villarrica emerged during theMiddle Pleistocene and grew forming a large stratocone of similar dimensions to the current edifice. 100,000 years ago during theValdivia Interglacial the ancestral Villarrica collapsed following an eruption and formed a large ellipticalcaldera of 6.5 and 4.2 km in diameter. During theLlanquihue glaciation Villarrica producedpyroclastic flow deposits, subglacialandesite lavas anddacite dykes. It collapsed once again 13,700 years ago forming a new smaller caldera, among other pyroclastic flows the Licán Ignimbrite has been related to this event. Beginning with the Licán Ignimbrite, generated just after the last deglaciation, activity continued in similar fashion. The Pucón Ignimbrite was ejected during a minor collapse of the uppermost stratocone 3,700 years ago.[6]
The upper part of Villarrica is permanently covered by snow and has some 40 km2 ofglaciers, the largest of which is the Pichillancahue-Turbio Glacier situated on its southeastern flank.[7][8] Ash from the eruptions can increase theablation of snow and ice by absorption ofsolar radiation. Some ash coverings are thicker than 5cm andinsulate the glacier, decreasing ablation instead of enhancing it. Between 1961 and 2003, Villarrica lost 25% of its glaciated surface and the glaciers shrank at an average rate of -0.4 km2 each year.[9]
Villarrica is popular for climbing with guided hikes to the crater from the town of Pucón, but these may be suspended due to cloud or volcanic activity. Helicopter over-flights have been available since 2007. In the winter (July–September) a ski resort operates on the northern slopes.[10] The youngest person to reach the summit recognized by the Chilean government was Christopher Heussner of Texas at the age of 9 in 1999.
Villarrica is one of Chile's most active volcanoes; eruptions have been recorded since theconquest of Chile and the founding of the city ofVillarrica in 1552. This city was originally founded near the site of present-dayPucón.[11] Villarrica volcano had frequentstrombolian eruptions in the second half of the 16th century.[12] Peaks of activity occurred in 1558 and 1562.[12] The 1562 eruption in particular deposited thin ash layers as far as 200 km away from the volcano.[12]
During its early years the city of Villarrica was an importantgold and silver mining centre.[13] However mining activity declined over time.[11] It is thought that this decline could be a consequence of burial ofgold placers beneathlahars associated with mid-16th century eruptions of Villarrica.[11] This burial would have prompted settlers to move the city westward to its modern site, a place less prone tovolcanic hazards.[11] There are uncertainties in the eruptive record in the first half of the 17th century due to theMapuche andHuilliche uprising which led to the surrender or abandonment of Spanish settlements during thedestruction of the Seven Cities.[14]
1.jpg)
The volcano resumed eruptive activity on March 8, 1963.[15] On March 12 a flank vent some 250 metres below the summit begun to pour lava that ended up making a 1000 m long and 150-meter broad lava flow.[15] The lava flow had stopped by March 19. Concurrently with this the summit crater continued its strombolian eruption.[15] Explosive eruptions begun once again on May 2, 1963, and the eruption had definitely turned effusive by May 21. The last consequences of this cycle of eruptions werelahars that flowed down the volcano on May 24.[15]
In the two last weeks of February 1964, Villarrica produced small, violent lava effusions and tremors.[citation needed] On 2 March, at 2:45 am, it began astrombolian eruption, and residents ofCoñaripe, a wood-logging town, fled to the surrounding hills.[16] At some point, the inhabitants of Coñaripe decided to return to their houses in search of shelter from the heavy rainfall.[16] At midnight a new lava flow advanced downhill melting snow and ice triggering five lahars.[16] Melting snow and ice from the Pichillancahue-Turbio Glacier combined with heavy rainfall to produce severallahars.[citation needed] This situation caught Coñaripe residents unprepared when one of the lahars overwhelmed the town killing 27 residents.[16][17] The hamlet of Chaillupén was also destroyed by the lahar meaning 30 houses were destroyed, however, there were no deaths.[17] Other lahars that flowed north destroyed various bridges between Villarrica and Pucón before enteringVillarrica Lake. The sudden inflow of lahars into Villarrica Lake caused the water level to rise, flooding some low-lying pastures.[16]
SomeMapuches blamed settlers for the disaster claiming they had provoked it by cursing the town of Coñaripe.[18] Such views reflect the belief that nature was "allied with the Indians".[19]
| 1971–1972 eruption of Villarrica | |
|---|---|
| Start date | October 29, 1971 |
| End date | February 21, 1972 |
| Type | Strombolian |
| VEI | 2[20] |
On 29 October 1971, at 3:00 am, there were several explosions in the crater and a column of white and then black smoke appeared.[21] One month later, at quarter to midnight on 29 November, Villarrica began a new eruptive cycle.Pyroclasts were ejected and the snow surrounding thecrater melted. After a brief halt in activity lava poured from a new vent on the north-east side, melting considerable amounts of water and causinglahars. These lahars affected Pichaye, El Turbio, Collentañe, Minetué, Molco, Voipir andCurarrehue, all of them in theTrancura River basin. Toxicsulphurous gases made the air unbreathable inVillarrica andPucón where at least 15 deaths were reported.[21]
| 2015 eruption of Villarrica | |
|---|---|
| Volcano | Villarrica |
| Start date | March 3, 2015 |
| Type | Strombolian |
| Location | Villarrica,Araucania Region, Chile |
| VEI | 2[22] |
On February 7, 2015, Villarrica triggered a yellow alert at bothServicio Nacional de Geología y Minería[23][24] andOnemi.[25] Minor explosions and low emissions of ashes were visible.[26] Ten days later, another eruption occurred. The National Service of Geology and Mining (Sernageomin) declared a yellow alert after volcanic and seismic activity increased again, while the National Emergency Office of the Interior Ministry (ONEMI) kept the yellow alert.
At approximately 03:01 AM on March 3, 2015, it erupted,[27][28] raising the alert to red up to 10 kilometers around. The eruption exceeded the height of the volcano, causing a loud explosion that woke the neighbors, and forcing the evacuation of 3,385 people in nearby communities.
The Southern Andean Volcano Observatory (OVDAS) indicated that a new imminent eruption would continue until 12:29 of March 19, 2015.[29] As of July 2015, the eruption was continuing.[30] Volcanic gas emissions from this volcano are measured by aMulti-Component Gas Analyzer System, which detects pre-eruptive degassing of rising magmas, improvingprediction of volcanic activity.[31]
Analysis of seismicity prior to the eruption show that there was no seismicity that could be reliably related to the upcoming eruption.[32] However, a series of small earthquakes with hypocenters about 9 km beneath Villarrica volcano that occurred 45 days after the eruption are thought to have been caused by the cooling of the eruption'sfeeder dykes.[32]
 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(April 2024) |
