Galeras (Colombia): Recorded Eruptions and Historical Activity

Galeras is a complex volcano located in Colombia at an elevation of 4,276 meters, situated within a subduction zone on continental crust exceeding 25 kilometers in thickness. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the volcano has a total of 36 confirmed eruptions spanning thousands of years, with the earliest recorded event dating back to 7050 BCE (with a 1,000-year uncertainty).

Official records show that the confirmed eruptions at Galeras reach a maximum Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 3.0. Across the compiled event history, 35 eruptions include VEI observations. The chronology ranges from prehistoric activity assessed through methods such as tephrochronology to historical periods documented by direct human observations.

Historical Eruption Distribution by Century

The confirmed eruptions of Galeras are distributed unevenly across multiple centuries, reflecting both ancient activity and increasingly detailed historical reporting. The earliest records begin in the 71st century BCE, followed by intermittent prehistoric events before entering more densely documented historical centuries.

The breakdown of confirmed eruptions across centuries according to official records includes:

• 71st century BCE: 1 eruption (starting around 7050 BCE)
• 32nd century BCE: 1 eruption
• 26th century BCE: 1 eruption
• 12th century BCE: 1 eruption
• 5th century BCE: 1 eruption
• 9th century CE: 1 eruption
• 16th century CE: 2 eruptions
• 17th century CE: 3 eruptions (including a VEI 3 eruption spanning 1641 to 1643)
• 18th century CE: 2 eruptions
• 19th century CE: 6 eruptions (including a VEI 2 eruption on July 2, 1891)
• 20th century CE: 10 eruptions
• 21st century CE: 7 eruptions (including a VEI 3 eruption from October 21, 2008, to January 2, 2010, and an eruption starting May 13, 2012, at the summit crater)

Notable Recorded Eruptions

The structured eruption record encompasses various observation methods and magnitudes. Representative events illustrate the range of documented activity:

• 7050 BCE: An early confirmed eruption identified through tephrochronology correlation, with a start-year uncertainty of 1,000 years.
• 1641–1643: A reported eruption with a VEI of 3.0, documented via historical observations.
• 1891: A reported eruption beginning on July 2, 1891, with a VEI of 2.0.
• 2008–2010: A reported eruption spanning from October 21, 2008, to January 2, 2010, reaching a VEI of 3.0.
• 2012–2014: An eruption at the summit crater that began on May 13, 2012, and ended on January 30, 2014, with a VEI of 2.0.

Profile data lists the last known eruption year for Galeras as 2014, while the latest structured confirmation in the event database details activity beginning on May 13, 2012.