About San Felix
San Felix is a shield rising to 159 meters (522 feet) in Chile's Southern Pacific Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
San Felix is located in Chile, within the San Felix Hotspot Volcano Group of the broader Southern Pacific Volcanic Regions. Situated at 26.29° S, 80.11° W in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a subtropical climate zone. At just 159 meters above sea level, San Felix is a relatively low-elevation volcanic feature. Despite its modest height, it remains an active geological formation with the same underlying magmatic processes as its taller counterparts. The volcanic landform is characterized as a shield, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
GVP Reference Summary
San Félix Island, 800 km W of the Chilean coast, consists largely of a low, cliff-bounded lava platform separating two tuff cones. The Islota Gonzáles cone to the SW is separated from the main island by a shallow submerged platform. Cerro Amarillo at the western end forms the high point of the island and is the source of fresh-looking hawaiite lava flows that reached the sea and formed the low lava platform at the SW tip of the island. A ship captain reported a dull red glow at the summit in 1923. Willis and Washington (1924) considered the youthful lava flows to predate discovery of the island in the 16th century, but not be more than a few centuries old. However, Ar-Ar dating by Haase et al. (2000) determined an age of 421 +/- 18 ka, and considered the advanced erosion of the island as indicative of several hundred thousands of years of inactivity.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for San Felix.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About San Felix
Is San Felix an active volcano?+
San Felix 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 San Felix?+
San Felix has a summit elevation of 159 meters (522 feet) above sea level. At 159 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is San Felix?+
San Felix is classified as a Shield. Shield volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is San Felix located?+
San Felix is located in Chile, in the Southern Pacific Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the San Felix Hotspot Volcano Group. Its exact coordinates are -26.294° latitude, -80.112° longitude.
Is it safe to visit San Felix?+
San Felix 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.
