Lascar Volcano

Infobox Mountain
Name = Lascar
Photo = Lascar eruption 2006b - cropped.jpg
Caption = Lascar erupting in 2006.
Range = Andes
Elevation = convert|5592|m|ft|0|lk=on
Location = Northern Chile
Coordinates = coord|23|22|0|S|67|44|0|W|type:mountain_region:CL|display=inline,title
Type = Stratovolcano
Age =
Last eruption = 2007
First ascent =
Easiest route =

Lascar is the most active volcano of the northern Chilean Andes. It lies east of the Salar de Atacama and immediately west of Aguas Calientes volcano. Other volcanoes in the area include the Acamarachi and Chiliques, all of which form a spectacular backdrop for Laguna Lejía.

The andesitic-to-dacitic stratovolcano contains six overlapping summit craters. Prominent lava flows descend its NW flanks. The largest eruption of Lascar took place about 26,500 years ago, and following the eruption of the Tumbres scoria flow about 9000 years ago, activity shifted back to the eastern edifice, where three overlapping craters were formed. Frequent small-to-moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded from Lascar in historical time since the mid-19th century, along with periodic larger eruptions that produced ashfall hundreds of kilometers away from the volcano. The largest historical eruption of Lascar took place in 1993, producing pyroclastic flows to 8.5 km NW of the summit and ashfall in Buenos Aires. The latest series of eruptions began on 2006-04-18 and were continuing as of 2007-01-01.

ee also

*List of volcanoes in Chile

References

*

External links

* [http://www.atacamaphoto.com/atacama/atacama95.htm Atacama Photo Gallery] - panoramic view into the crater of Lascar