Lascar (Chile): Recorded Eruptions and Historical Activity

Lascar is an active stratovolcano located in Chile within a subduction zone setting on continental crust over 25 kilometers thick. Standing at an elevation of 5,592 meters, it has a documented chronological record of 33 confirmed eruptions stretching from prehistoric times into the 21st century. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program's structured data, these recorded events include activity ranging from early isotopic evidence to modern reported observations.

Overview of Eruption History and Chronology

The confirmed eruption record for Lascar spans multiple millennia, beginning with an early recorded event in the 73rd century BCE (specifically starting around 7250 BCE based on uncalibrated radiocarbon evidence associated with the Lascar II Tumbres scoria flow). The historical frequency of recorded activity varies significantly across centuries:

• 52nd century BCE: 1 confirmed eruption
• 73rd century BCE: 1 confirmed eruption
• 19th century CE: 6 confirmed eruptions
• 20th century CE: 18 confirmed eruptions
• 21st century CE: 7 confirmed eruptions

In total, the database contains 31 observations with assigned Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) values, reaching a maximum recorded VEI of 4.0.

Notable Historical and Modern Eruptions

While the full collection comprises 33 confirmed events, specific entries illustrate the range of eruptive behavior documented at the volcano:

• July 1902: A reported eruption began on July 2, 1902, reaching a VEI of 2.0.
• September 1986: An eruption occurred at the western crater of the east summit cone between September 14 and September 16, 1986, with a VEI of 3.0.
• 1993 Eruption: The largest recorded VEI event in the dataset (VEI 4.0) took place at the western crater of the east summit cone, starting on January 30, 1993, and ending on August 16, 1993.
• 2026 Eruption: A reported confirmed eruption took place on February 8, 2026. This date corresponds to the latest recorded eruption in the Smithsonian dataset, matching the profile's last known eruption year of 2026, retrieved as of September 2026.