Geologic Background:
Reventador is the most frequently active of a
chain of Ecuadorian volcanoes in the Cordillera Real,
well east of the principal volcanic axis. It is a
forested stratovolcano that rises above the remote
jungles of the western Amazon basin. A 3-km-wide caldera
breached to the east was formed by edifice collapse and
is partially filled by a young, unvegetated stratovolcano
that rises about 1,300 m above the caldera floor.
Frequent lahars in this region of heavy rainfall have
constructed a debris plain on the eastern floor of the
caldera.
Historic Activity:
- Reventador has been the source of numerous lava flows
as well as explosive eruptions that were visible from
Quito in historical time.
- Most recent eruption in January 1976, producing a
3000-m ash column and lava flows that extended >2.5
km.
Recent Activity:
Data Sources:
- Smithsonian's SEAN Bulletin (V. 1, No. 4)
- Global Volcanism Network (V. 15, No. 9 ).
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