About Chascon, Cerro
Chascon, Cerro is a lava dome rising to 5,125 meters (16,815 feet) in 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
Chascon, Cerro is located in Bolivia, within the Central Andean Volcanic Arc of the broader South America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 21.88° S, 67.90° W in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. At 5,125 meters above sea level, Chascon, Cerro 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 minor, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
GVP Reference Summary
The lava dome of Cerro Chascon and the associated rhyolitic Cerro Runtu Jarita lava flow are located within the moat of Bolivia's Pliocene Pastos Grandes caldera. The roughly circular, flat-topped Cerro Chascon is located immediately NW of Laguna Khara. Cerro Runtu Jarita forms a roughly N-S-trending chain of small silicic lava bodies that probably represents the surficial expression of a subsurface dike. Minor eruptions of rhyolitic tephra preceded extrusion of the Cerro Runtu Jarita lavas. The age of Cerro Chascon was considered to by Holocene (de Silva and Francis, 1991), but new K-Ar dates give ages of 0.88-0.93 Ma (Watts et al., 1999).
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Chascon, Cerro.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Chascon, Cerro
Is Chascon, Cerro an active volcano?+
Chascon, Cerro 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 Chascon, Cerro?+
Chascon, Cerro has a summit elevation of 5,125 meters (16,815 feet) above sea level. At 5,125 meters, it stands taller than Mount Rainier (4,392m) and is among the world's major volcanic peaks.
What type of volcano is Chascon, Cerro?+
Chascon, Cerro is classified as a Lava dome. Lava dome volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Chascon, Cerro located?+
Chascon, Cerro is located in Bolivia, in the South America Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Central Andean Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are -21.880° latitude, -67.900° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Chascon, Cerro?+
Chascon, Cerro can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Bolivia may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
