About Firura, Nevados
Firura, Nevados is a stratovolcano(es) rising to 5,498 meters (18,039 feet) in Peru's South America Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Firura, Nevados is located in Peru, within the Central Andean Volcanic Arc of the broader South America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 15.23° S, 72.63° W in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. At 5,498 meters above sea level, Firura, Nevados reaches well into the permanent snow and ice zone. Glaciers and snowpack on the upper slopes create the potential for lahars — destructive volcanic mudflows — during eruptions, as heat rapidly melts ice and snow. The volcanic landform is characterized as a composite, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
GVP Reference Summary
The Nevados Firura volcanic complex consists of a 10-12 km long, NE-SW-trending cluster of small stratovolcanoes. The highest peak is 5500-m-high Nevado Firura itself, which lies to the NE of Cerro Soncco Orcco and Cerro Jahsaya. Little is known about this andesitic volcanic complex, but morphologically youthful lava flows extend into vegetated and settled areas. The age of Nevados Firura was considered to be Holocene (de Silva and Francis, 1990), but later work showed that the young-looking lava flows on the flank of the volcano were dated at about several hundred thousand years (Worner 2006, pers. comm.).
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Firura, Nevados.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Firura, Nevados
Is Firura, Nevados an active volcano?+
Firura, Nevados is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "unknown." No recorded eruptions have been documented. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
How high is Firura, Nevados?+
Firura, Nevados has a summit elevation of 5,498 meters (18,039 feet) above sea level. At 5,498 meters, it stands taller than Mount Rainier (4,392m) and is among the world's major volcanic peaks.
What type of volcano is Firura, Nevados?+
Firura, Nevados is classified as a Stratovolcano(es). Stratovolcano(es) volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Firura, Nevados located?+
Firura, Nevados is located in Peru, in the South America Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Central Andean Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are -15.230° latitude, -72.630° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Firura, Nevados?+
Firura, Nevados can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Peru may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
