Rincon de la Vieja is a complex volcano situated in Costa Rica at an elevation of 1,729 meters within a subduction zone and continental crust tectonic setting. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program's official record, the volcano has a total of 30 confirmed eruptions spanning from ancient history to the 21st century CE.
Overview of Recorded Activity
The historical and prehistoric record for Rincon de la Vieja documents 30 confirmed eruptions. These events vary in scale, with a largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 4.0. Out of the 30 confirmed eruptions, 29 have associated VEI observations.
The earliest recorded eruption in the official dataset dates back to 1820 BCE with a start year uncertainty of 150 years and a VEI of 4.0, determined via calibrated 14C isotopic evidence. The most recent structured eruption entry in the confirmed eruption sequence started on June 28, 2021, and ended on October 22, 2021, with a VEI of 2.0 based on reported observations. The profile's last-known eruption year recorded in the database is 2024.
Note: Representative historical eruption records shown in source collections are examples and do not constitute the complete chronological set.
Eruption Distribution Across Centuries
The confirmed eruptions of Rincon de la Vieja are distributed across multiple centuries, combining prehistoric dating methods and historical observations:
- 19th century BCE: 1 eruption (starting around 1820 BCE)
- 5th century CE: 1 eruption
- 18th century CE: 1 eruption
- 19th century CE: 4 eruptions
- 20th century CE: 14 eruptions (including a reported eruption starting June 14, 1912, with VEI 3.0, and an eruption spanning March 31, 1984, to April 16, 1984, with VEI 2.0)
- 21st century CE: 9 eruptions (including a crater lake activity eruption from February 19, 2012, to April 14, 2012, with VEI 1.0, and the 2021–2024 sequence)
Frequently asked questions
Where is Rincon de la Vieja located?
Rincon de la Vieja is a complex volcano located in Costa Rica at an elevation of 1,729 meters.
How many eruptions have been recorded at Rincon de la Vieja?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program records 30 confirmed eruptions for Rincon de la Vieja.
What is the largest recorded VEI for this volcano?
The largest recorded eruptions at Rincon de la Vieja reached a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 4.0.
When did the earliest and latest recorded eruptions take place?
The earliest recorded eruption in the dataset dates to 1820 BCE (with a 150-year uncertainty), while the latest structured eruption period in the confirmed sequence started on June 28, 2021.
Image credits
- Diego Tirira from Quito, Ecuador — Wikimedia Commons source — CC BY-SA 2.0
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.