Chaitén Volcano
Updated: Mar 31, 2025 19:12 GMT -
Caldera, lava dome
Southern Chile and Argentina (South America), -42.83°S / -72.65°W 
Summit height: 1122 m
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 11 Dec 2021
Image of the rhyolitic lava dome of Chaitén Volcano during its 2008-2010 eruption (photo: Sam Beebe)
Chaiten is a caldera volcano in southern Chile that had its first historic eruption on May 2, 2008 when it erupted violently. Ash fall and lahars during the eruption largely damaged the town of Chaitén, which had been evacuated as the eruption started.
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Chaitén volcano eruptions: 2 May 2008 (plinian eruption) - 2011
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Background
Chaitén is a small, glacier-free late-Pleistocene caldera with a Holocene lava dome located 10 km NE of the town of Chaitén on the Gulf of Corcovado. The north side of the rhyolitic, 962-m-high obsidian lava dome occupying the 3.5-km-wide caldera is unvegetated. Obsidian cobbles from this dome found in the Blanco River are the source of prehistorical artifacts from archaeological sites along the Pacific coast as far as 400 km away from the volcano to the north and south. The caldera is breached on the SW side by a river that drains to the bay of Chaitén, and the high point on its southern rim reaches 1,122 m. Two small lakes occupy the caldera floor on the west and north sides of the lava dome. Moreno (1985 pers. comm.) noted that the nearby volcano of Yelcho listed by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (1973) does not exist.---
Source: Global Volcanism Program at www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm
Chaitén Volcano Photos
Lava Dome of Chaiten volcano viewed from North Caldera Rim on 6 Dec. 2009 (Stitched Panorama Image). Dome was in phase of degassing and low level extrusion. (Photo: Richa...
Pyroclastic flows have destroyed forest on the north side of Chaiten volcano's lava dome. (Photo: Richard Roscoe)
The foot of Chaiten volcano's lava dome and damaged vegetation on the surrounding caldera rim. (Photo: Richard Roscoe)
Significant volcanic eruptions: Chaitén volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Chaitén has had only one confirmed historic eruption during 2008 - 2011, but at least 4 eruptions can be inferred from geological evidence.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Chaitén volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Chaitén can be found on the news page of Chaitén volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Historical obs./docs. | 4 | ||||
| 2008 May 2 (eruption | 0 | 1 | Info | ||
| 4? | |||||
| 5 | |||||
| ? | |||||
| 5 | |||||
Remark:
Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution
Chaitén Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Chaitén volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Chaitén occurred during 2008 - 2011.
+How often does Chaitén volcano erupt?
There are no known historic eruptions, but evidence from geologic records shows that it has had at least 5 eruptions over the past 10,000 years. This number is likely much higher because many past eruptions might not have left evidence recognizeable today and/or the volcano might not have been studied in too much detail. Using the available data, a very conservative estimate is that Chaitén volcano erupts every 2,000 years.
+How active is Chaitén volcano at present?
Chaitén volcano is occasionally active: Since 1900, it has had 4 eruptions, and been active during 4 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Chaitén has been in eruption one in 31.5 years on average. The last eruption was from 2008 until 2011 and ended 14 years ago.
+When was the largest eruption of Chaitén volcano?
The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Chaitén volcano occurred around 3100 BC. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.
Latest satellite images
Chaitén Volcano Maps
Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Chaitén volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Chaitén volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Chaitén volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Chaitén volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Chaitén volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Chaitén volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Chaitén volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Chaitén volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Chaitén volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Chaitén volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Chaitén volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Chaitén volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Chaitén volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Chaitén volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Chaitén volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Chaitén volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Chaitén volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Chaitén volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Chaitén volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Chaitén volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Chaitén volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Chaitén volcano (scale of few kilometers)
