About Aucanquilcha
Aucanquilcha is a stratovolcano rising to 6,176 meters (20,263 feet) in Chile'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
Aucanquilcha is located in Chile, within the Central Andean Volcanic Arc of the broader South America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 21.22° S, 68.47° W in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. At 6,176 meters above sea level, Aucanquilcha 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 world's highest permanent human habitation is situated below a sulfur mine in the summit region of Cerro Aucanquilcha, one the largest volcanoes of northern Chile. Several distinct cones are located along a 10-km-long, E-W ridge that forms the broad summit. A Pleistocene debris-avalanche deposit is a prominent feature on the lower NW flank. Extensive Pleistocene glacial moraines surround the stratovolcano, but postglacial lava flows overlie these moraines on the upper southern flanks (de Silva and Francis, 1991). Wörner et al. (2000) obtained surprisingly old Potassium-Argon dates of 400,000 to 780,000 years from the youngest flows on the NE and SW flanks, and eruptive activity appears to have ended during the late Pleistocene. It presently displays fumarolic activity.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Aucanquilcha.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Aucanquilcha
Is Aucanquilcha an active volcano?+
Aucanquilcha 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 Aucanquilcha?+
Aucanquilcha has a summit elevation of 6,176 meters (20,263 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 Aucanquilcha?+
Aucanquilcha is classified as a Stratovolcano. Stratovolcanoes (also called composite volcanoes) are steep, conical volcanoes built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. They are among the most common and dangerous types, known for explosive eruptions.
Where is Aucanquilcha located?+
Aucanquilcha is located in Chile, in the South America Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Central Andean Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are -21.220° latitude, -68.470° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Aucanquilcha?+
Aucanquilcha can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Chile may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
