Cotopaxi Volcano

Updated: Mar 26, 2025 13:52 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano

Ecuador, -0.68°S / -78.44°W

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Summit height: 5911 m / 19,393 ft

Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5)

Last update: 29 May 2024 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

The digital elevation model of Cotopaxi volcano acquired by SRTM. With its resolution of 25 m x 25 m, is so rich in detail that you can even make out an inner crater with a diameter of 120 m by 250 m inside the outer crater (800 m x 650 m). Blue and green correspond to the lowest elevations in the image, while beige, orange, red, and white represent increasing elevations. (Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory)

Cotopaxi is one of South America's most famous volcanoes and one of its most active ones. With its 5911 m it also ranks among the world's highest active volcanoes (26th highest).
The majestic, snow covered symmetrical stratovolcano is located on the Eastern Cordillera of the Ecuadorian Andes, 60 km south of Quito and 35 km northeast of Latacunga.
Cotopaxi's steep cone has nested summit craters, the outer of which measures 550 x 800 m in diameter.
Cotopaxi erupted more than 50 times since 1738. The most violent historical eruptions of Cotopaxi volcano were in 1744, 1768, 1877, and 1904. its eruptions often produced pyroclastic flows and destructive mud flows (lahars). Some lahars have travelled more than 100 km and reached the Pacific to the west and the Amazon Basin to the east.
At the moment, it has been dormant for over 70 years, which is an unusual long interval in its recent history.

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Cotopaxi webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: explosive
Cotopaxi volcano eruptions: 2015-16, 1942(?), 1940, 1939(?), 1931(?), 1928-30(?), 1905-08, 1903, 1895, 1886, 1885, 1883?, 1883, 1882, 1880, 1879, 1878, 1877, 1870-76, 1870, 1869, 1868, 1867, 1866, 1863, 1860-62, 1859, 1858, 1857, 1856, 1856, 1855, 1854, 1853, 1852, 1851, 1850, 1845, 1844, 1803, 1768, 1766, 1750, 1747-49, 1746, 1744, 1743, 1743, 1742, 1742, 1740-41, 1738, 1698, 1534, 1533, 1532, 1400, 1260, 1130, 950, 770, 760, 740, 550, 370, 180, 140, 110, 70, 80 BC, 230 BC, 1510 BC, 2220 BC, 2640 BC

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Background

Cotopaxi has often produced lahars during eruptions melting the snow on the upper flanks. The lahars have eroded deep valleys in all directions from the summit of the andesitic volcano. These valleys alternative with large andesitic lava flows that extend as far as the base of the volcano.
The modern stratovolcano was built above the scar left by a major debris avalanche which destroyed an older edifice about 5000 years ago.

A rare high altitude hummingbird (Oreotrochilus chimborazo) has been discovered to live on the slopes of Cotopaxi between 13,000 and 15,000 ft where it nests on protected cliffs.

Significant volcanic eruptions: Cotopaxi volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Cotopaxi has had at least 85 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 60 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1942 from Cotopaxi volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Cotopaxi volcano since around 1800. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Cotopaxi can be found on the news page of Cotopaxi volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths
2022 Oct 21 - 2023 Jul 6	Summit crater Historical obs./docs.	2
2015 Aug 14 - 2016 Jan 24	Summit crater Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1942 Feb 17 - Feb 19	Uncertain Eruption	3?
1940	Historical obs./docs.	2
1939 Feb 2	Historical obs./docs.	2
1931	Historical obs./docs.	2
1926	Historical obs./docs.	2
1922	Historical obs./docs.	2
1908 - 1914	Historical obs./docs.	1
1907 Jun	Historical obs./docs.	2
1906 Aug 21 - Sep 19	Historical obs./docs.	2
1903 Sep 26 - 1904 Dec	Historical obs./docs.	3
1905	Historical obs./docs.	2
1895	Historical obs./docs.	2
1886 Jan	Historical obs./docs.	2
1885 Jul 23	Historical obs./docs.	2
1883 Dec	Historical obs./docs.	2
1883 Aug	Historical obs./docs.	2
1882 Jan - Mar	Historical obs./docs.	2
1880 Feb - Jul	Historical obs./docs.	3
1879 Feb 26 - Jun 19	Historical obs./docs.	2
1878 Aug 23 - Aug 24	Historical obs./docs.	2
1877 Jan - Sep 2	Historical obs./docs.	4
1877 Jun 25 (eruption 1877 Jan - Sep 2)	Historical obs./docs.	4	340	Info
1877 Jun 25: Wolf reports at Mullao the priest observed 20 people swept away by the lahar. The Latacunga district had 300 fatalities, not including outsiders and 20 Indians were killed by lahars at Napo. Coleman gives the death toll at 1,000 but the basis for this is not clear. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1680 Wolf, Teodoro (1904): Cronica de los fenomenos volcanicos y terremotos del Ecuador, con algunas noticias sobre otros paises del la America Central y Meridional, desde 1533 a 1797. Annales Univ Central, Quito, 8, p. 55-69; 80-83. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1870 - 1876	Historical obs./docs.	2
1869 Jul - Aug	Historical obs./docs.	3
1868 Aug 15 - Aug 16	Historical obs./docs.	2
1867	Historical obs./docs.	2
1866 Sep 21 - Sep 26	Historical obs./docs.	2
1863	Historical obs./docs.	2
1860 - 1862	Historical obs./docs.	2
1858 Nov - Dec	Historical obs./docs.	2
1859	Historical obs./docs.	2
1856 Oct - Dec	Historical obs./docs.	2
1857	Historical obs./docs.	2
1856 May	Historical obs./docs.	2
1855 Nov	Historical obs./docs.	2
1854 Sep 14	Historical obs./docs.	2
1854 Apr 3	Historical obs./docs.	2
1853 Sep 13 - Sep 15	Historical obs./docs.	3
1852	Historical obs./docs.	2
1851 Jun	Historical obs./docs.	2
1850	Historical obs./docs.	2
1845 Apr	Historical obs./docs.	2
1844	Historical obs./docs.	2
1803 Jan 4 - Jan 5	Historical obs./docs.	3

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

Eruptions of Cotopaxi volcano

1907 eruption
The last significant eruption of Cotopaxi volcano was in 1907 and produced ash explosions and small pyroclastic flows but no lava flows.

1905 and 1906 eruptions
The eruptions in 1905 and August 1906 consisted in small ash explosions.

1903-04 eruption
A medium-sized eruption (VEI 3) started on 26 Sep 1903 and lasted until December 1904. The eruption occurred from the central vent and produced tall ash plumes, pyroclastic flows and lahars. During explosions on or around 23 October, lightnings were noted by observers, the Times reports the next day: "Since Thursday, electric discharges have been notices on the eastern side of the Andes. Rumblings were heard near the towns this morning, and ashes fell for three-quarters of an hour." (The Times, 25 Oct 1903, "COTOPAXI IN ERUPTION")

1880 vulcanian eruption
One of the largest eruptions of Cotopaxi in historic times began on 3 July 1880. A powerful explosion sent an ash column of 20,000 ft (ca. 6 km) height above the crater in less than a minute.
The British explorer Edward Whymper was climbing Chimborazo at the time of the eruption and reported extremely vivid and strange light and color effects when the large ash plume drifted over him: "... several hours passed before the ash commenced to intervene between the sun and ourselves; and, when it did so, we witnessed effects which simply amazed us. We saw a green sun..." (click to read more) ...more info

1877 vulcanian eruption
4 large eruptions occurred at Cotopaxi between January and September 1877. The explosions produced high eruption columns, heavy ash fall, pyroclastic flows and lahars. The eruption caused much damage and there were fatalities.

1853 eruption
A 3 day long eruption occurred at Cotopaxi from 13-15 September 1853 and produced ashfall, pyroclastic flows and small lahars.

1768 vulcanian-subplinian eruption
One of the largest historical eruptions of Cotopaxi occurred on 4 April 1768. A large vulcanian explosion took place (VEI 4) and generated a high ash plume, heavy ash fall and pyroclastic flows. Large bombs were falling at great distances. The eruption caused fatalities and extensive damage. ...more info

1766 eruption
Several small to medium-sized explosions occurred in 1866. Lahars and floods damaged the town of Latacunga and the fallout of coarse pumice west of the volcano destroyed several farms.

1744 eruption
A major explosive eruption started in May 1744 at Cotopaxi volcano. It produced extensive ash fall 7-10 cm thick 10 km west of the crater.

1742 eruption
2 larger explosive eruptions occurred in December 1742, producing ashfall, pyroclastic flows, and destructive lahars. The eruption caused fatalities.

1534 eruption
In 1534 the conquistadors were at war with the locals for control over Ecuador. It is reported that during a battle on the flanks of Cotopaxi, the volcano started an eruption and filled the air with "hot ash" (pyroclastic surges?). The locals viewed the event as a divine sign from their god fled in fear. The Spanish who had no experience with volcanic activity were terrorized and did the same.
A lahar from the 1534 eruption destroyed La Contiega village.

The Chillos Valley Lahar 4500 years ago
The Chillos Valley Lahar from Cotopaxi volcano's north and NE slopes is the largest known debris flow in the northern Andes during the Holocene (11,700 years ago to present).
It descended river systems and flowed 326 km north–northwest to the Pacific Ocean and more than 130 km east into the Amazon basin. The massive avalanche occurred around 4500 years ago.

Cotopaxi Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Cotopaxi volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Cotopaxi occurred during 2022 - 2023.

+How often does Cotopaxi volcano erupt?

Since 1532 AD, Cotopaxi volcano has had at least 60 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 8.2 years.
Many eruptions of Cotopaxi have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 75 out of 493 years until now. In other words, Cotopaxi has been active at least one in 6.6 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Cotopaxi is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Cotopaxi volcano at present?

Cotopaxi volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 21 eruptions, and been active during 21 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Cotopaxi has been in eruption one in 6 years on average. The last eruption was from 2022 until 2023 and ended 2 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Cotopaxi volcano?

The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Cotopaxi volcano occurred around 1130 AD. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Cotopaxi 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).