Global Volcanism Program

Nevado del Ruiz is a broad, glacier-covered volcano in central Colombia that covers more than 200 km2. Three major edifices, composed of andesitic and dacitic lavas and andesitic pyroclastics, have been constructed since the beginning of the Pleistocene. The modern cone consists of a broad cluster of lava domes built within the caldera of an older edifice. The 1-km-wide, 240-m-deep Arenas crater occupies the summit. The prominent La Olleta pyroclastic cone located on the SW flank may also have been active in historical time. Steep headwalls of massive landslides cut the flanks. Melting of its summit icecap during historical eruptions, which date back to the 16th century, has resulted in devastating lahars, including one in 1985 that was South America

Global Volcanism Program

Global Volcanism Program: Worldwide Holocene Volcano and Eruption

Global Volcanism Program Eruptions, Earthquakes & Emissions

Global Volcanism Program

Global Volcanism Program

Global Volcanism Program

World map showing location of the volcanoes and countries

Holocene volcanoes. Source: Olivier Santoni (CERDI) using data

Global Volcanism Program

Timeline of eruption history based on the Global Volcanism Program

Plume from Lascar volcano, April 1993 eruption. NOAA image

Global Volcanism Program

Global Volcanism Program