About Acotango
Acotango is a stratovolcano(es) rising to 6,052 meters (19,857 feet) in Chile-Bolivia'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
Acotango is located in Chile-Bolivia, within the Central Andean Volcanic Arc of the broader South America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 18.37° S, 69.05° W in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. At 6,052 meters above sea level, Acotango 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
Acotango, along with Volcán Humarata to the north and Cerro Capurata (also known as Cerro Elena Capurata) to the south, comprises the Nevados de Quimsachata volcano group. Quimsachata means "three" in the Andean Aymará language, and 5730-m-high Humarata, Acotango, and 5990-m-high Cerro Capurata straddle the Chile-Bolivia boundary along a roughly N-S line. The 6052-m-high Acotango stratovolcano is the central and highest of the three stratovolcanoes. It is in a fairly advanced stage of dissection, but a morphologically youthful lava flow on its northern flank suggested Holocene activity (de Silva and Francis, 1991). Later higher resolution imagery implied a Pleistocene age (de Silva 2007, pers. comm.). Humarata, with a summit crater breached to the ESE, and Capurata, a complex of lava domes and associated pyroclastic-flow deposits, may also have been active during the Holocene.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Acotango.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Acotango
Is Acotango an active volcano?+
Acotango 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 Acotango?+
Acotango has a summit elevation of 6,052 meters (19,857 feet) above sea level. This makes it one of the tallest volcanoes in the world, comparable in height to some of the highest peaks in the Andes.
What type of volcano is Acotango?+
Acotango is classified as a Stratovolcano(es). Stratovolcano(es) volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Acotango located?+
Acotango is located in Chile-Bolivia, in the South America Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Central Andean Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are -18.370° latitude, -69.050° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Acotango?+
Acotango can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Chile-Bolivia may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
