Llaima is a stratovolcano located in Chile at an elevation of 3,125 meters, situated within a subduction zone and continental crust setting. Maintained within the official records of the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, Llaima has a structured record consisting of 56 confirmed eruptions spanning thousands of years, with the earliest recorded eruption starting around 7410 BCE and the latest recorded sequence beginning on January 1, 2008, and ending on June 12, 2009.
Chronology and Distribution of Recorded Eruptions
The historical record for Llaima includes eruptive activity documented through various methods, ranging from uncalibrated radiocarbon (14C) isotopic dating for ancient events to direct human observations for more recent centuries. The distribution of confirmed eruptions varies across centuries, with the highest concentration of recorded events occurring during the 19th and 20th centuries CE.
Across the entire recorded timeline, 54 eruptions feature assigned values on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), which measures the relative size of explosive volcanic events. The largest recorded VEI in Llaima's official record is 5.0, which was documented during an eruption with a start year of 6880 BCE.
Century Breakdown of Eruptive Activity
The 56 confirmed eruptions recorded at Llaima are distributed across different historical eras and centuries as follows:
- 75th century BCE: 1 eruption
- 69th century BCE: 1 eruption
- 53rd century BCE: 1 eruption
- 17th century CE: 1 eruption
- 18th century CE: 2 eruptions
- 19th century CE: 15 eruptions
- 20th century CE: 31 eruptions
- 21st century CE: 4 eruptions
Selected Historical Eruption Examples
The official record demonstrates a shift in documentation methods over millennia, transitioning from isotopic dating techniques to direct historical observations:
- 7410 BCE: An early confirmed eruption documented via uncalibrated 14C isotopic evidence, with a start year uncertainty of 300 years.
- 6880 BCE: A large explosive event recorded with a VEI of 5.0, determined via isotopic evidence with a start year uncertainty of 75 years.
- January 16, 1877 – June 24, 1877: A confirmed eruption documented through reported observations, reaching a VEI of 2.0.
- December 16, 1929: A reported observational eruption with a VEI of 2.0.
- January 1, 2008 – June 12, 2009: A confirmed eruption occurring at the summit and upper east flank, reaching a VEI of 3.0 based on reported observations.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Llaima located and what type of volcano is it?
Llaima is a stratovolcano located in Chile at an elevation of 3,125 meters.
How many confirmed eruptions does Llaima have?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program's official record documents 56 confirmed eruptions for Llaima.
When did Llaima's earliest and latest recorded eruptions occur?
The earliest recorded eruption in the dataset began around 7410 BCE, and the latest recorded eruption sequence concluded on June 12, 2009.
What is the largest recorded VEI for Llaima?
The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Llaima is 5.0, associated with an eruption starting around 6880 BCE.
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.