San Cristóbal Volcano

Infobox Mountain
Name=San Cristóbal
Photo=VolcanSanCristobal1.jpg
Caption=San Cristóbal from the Ingenio San Antonio sugar mill in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua
Elevation= Convert|1745|m|ft|0|abbr=on
Range=Cordillera Los Maribios
Location=Nicaragua
Prominence =
Coordinates = coord|12|42|N|87|0|W|type:mountain
Topographic

Type=Stratovolcano
Age=
Last eruption=2008
First ascent=
Easiest route=

Volcán San Cristóbal is the highest volcano in Nicaragua at Convert|1745|m|ft|0|abbr=on. Located near to the northwest corner of the country, it forms a majestic backdrop to the town of Chichigalpa, Chinandega. It is also among the most active volcanos in Nicaragua, erupting frequently (if gently).

San Cristóbal is part of a 5-member volcanic complex that bears the same name. El Chonco lies 4 km to the west, and Moyotepe 4 km to the north east. Joined to the volcano's eastern flank is Volcán Casita, which buried a village with a catastrophic landslide in 1998. The scars from said landslide are still visible today. Finally, La Pelona is located on the eastern end of the complex. [http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1404-02=&VErupt=Y&VSources=Y&VRep=Y&VWeekly=Y]

Physical features

San Cristóbal is the youngest volcano in its complex. It is a nearly symmetrical stratovolcano, rising in a distinctive cone shape. The SW slope is the longest, and the crater rim on that side rises 140 m above the NE end due to prevailing trade winds that distribute tephra to the SW. [http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1404-02=&volpage=photos&VErupt=Y&VSources=Y&VRep=Y&VWeekly=Y]

The crater is 500x600 m in size. While the volcano was at one point covered in tropical forests, the large quantities of gas and smoke that it emits constantly have killed off much of the vegetation. [http://www.ineter.gob.ni/geofisica/vol/cristobal/descr.html]

Eruptive history

* 1685: Erupted strongly enough to merit preservation in historical accounts.
* August 1919: Produced loud noises and light tremors that were felt in surrounding areas.
* May 1971: Produced bangs and explosions.
* March 1976: Produced a high, continuous column of smoke, several light tremors, and explosions that occurred every three minutes.
* c. December 1986: Marked expulsion of gases
* c. January 1987: Expelled large quantities of gas.
* May 1997: Entered into a new eruptive period, expelling gases, ash, and sand, and also producing light tremors.
* December 1999: Expelled gas, ash, and sand.
* May, August 2001: Reactivated.
* April 2006: Moderate phreatic eruption.
* July 2008: Rumbled with a series of small explosions, and expelled gas.

Current activity

San Cristóbal remains quite active, continuously expelling copious amounts of gas and smoke. As recent as April 2006, it was reported that water from heavy rains seeped down to the magma at the volcano's core, causing seismic disturbances and an expulsion of a large quantity of steam. [http://www.ineter.gob.ni/geofisica/vol/cristobal/cristobal_abril_2006.html]

References

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* [http://www.ineter.gob.ni/geofisica/vol/cristobal/cristobal.html INETER's page on San Cristóbal (Spanish)]