About Licancabur
Licancabur is a stratovolcano rising to 5,916 meters (19,410 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
Licancabur is located in Chile-Bolivia, within the Central Andean Volcanic Arc of the broader South America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 22.83° S, 67.88° W in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. At 5,916 meters above sea level, Licancabur 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.
Geological Context
Licancabur sits in a subduction zone, where one tectonic plate dives beneath another, creating intense heat and pressure that generates magma. Subduction zones are responsible for many of the world's most explosive volcanoes and deadliest eruptions. For communities in Chile-Bolivia near Licancabur, this tectonic setting means the volcano is capable of producing powerful explosive eruptions, pyroclastic flows, and lahars that can threaten populated areas within tens of kilometers of the summit. The dominant rock type is andesite / basaltic andesite, a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that forms from rapidly cooling, low-viscosity lava. Basaltic eruptions tend to be less explosive and produce fluid lava flows that can travel long distances. While less immediately dangerous than explosive eruptions, basaltic lava flows can destroy structures and infrastructure in their path, and volcanic gases released during these eruptions can affect air quality over a wide area.
GVP Reference Summary
The symmetrical steep-sided Licancabur stratovolcano was constructed primarily during the Holocene and contains a lake in its 400-m-wide summit crater. The Pleistocene Juriques volcano is located immediately to the SE and is capped by a 1.5-km-wide summit crater. Archaeological ruins were found on the crater rim. The shallow freshwater summit lake is 70 x 90 m and has a measured temperature of 6°C, supporting growth of planktonic fauna at nearly 6,000 m elevation. Young blocky andesitic lava flows with prominent levees extend up to 6 km down the NW-to-SW flanks; older flows reach up to 15 km from the summit crater and are covered by pyroclastic-flow deposits that extend 12 km. The most recent activity produced flank lava flows.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Licancabur.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Licancabur
Is Licancabur an active volcano?+
Licancabur is classified as active based on credible evidence of past eruptions. Although its last known eruption was in prehistoric times, volcanologists consider it capable of erupting again.
How high is Licancabur?+
Licancabur has a summit elevation of 5,916 meters (19,410 feet) above sea level. At 5,916 meters, it stands taller than Mount Rainier (4,392m) and is among the world's major volcanic peaks.
What type of volcano is Licancabur?+
Licancabur 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 Licancabur located?+
Licancabur 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 -22.830° latitude, -67.880° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Licancabur?+
Licancabur 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.
