Orizaba, Pico de is a stratovolcano located in Mexico at a tectonic setting defined by a subduction zone and continental crust thicker than 25 kilometers. Rising to an elevation of 5,564 meters, the volcano has a documented geological and historical record comprising 23 confirmed eruptions. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program's official records, this activity spans from its earliest recorded eruption in 7530 BCE up to its latest recorded eruption on July 2, 1846 CE.
Eruption History and Chronology
The confirmed eruption record for Orizaba, Pico de includes events evaluated through various scientific methods, ranging from uncalibrated radiocarbon dating for ancient events to direct human observation for more recent occurrences. The historical timeline reflects activity spread across multiple centuries and millennia, featuring varying scales of intensity measured by the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI).
Of the 23 confirmed eruptions in the official record, 22 include VEI observations. The largest recorded VEI for the volcano is 5.0. Historical eruptions include both prehistoric events identified through isotopic analysis—such as an eruption around 7530 BCE with a start year uncertainty of 40 years, an eruption around 6710 BCE with a VEI of 5.0 and an uncertainty of 150 years, an eruption around 2500 BCE with a VEI of 3.0 and an uncertainty of 75 years, and an activity in 40 CE with a VEI of 3.0 and an uncertainty of 40 years—and the more recent directly reported eruption on July 2, 1846 CE, which carried a VEI of 2.0.
Distribution of Activity by Century
The 23 confirmed eruptions are distributed across various time periods in the official record:
- 76th century BCE: 1 eruption
- 71st century BCE: 1 eruption
- 68th century BCE: 1 eruption
- 63rd century BCE: 1 eruption
- 47th century BCE: 1 eruption
- 28th century BCE: 1 eruption
- 25th century BCE: 1 eruption
- 23rd century BCE: 1 eruption
- 22nd century BCE: 1 eruption
- 15th century BCE: 1 eruption
- 1st century CE: 2 eruptions
- 2nd century CE: 1 eruption
- 3rd century CE: 1 eruption
- 12th century CE: 1 eruption
- 13th century CE: 1 eruption
- 16th century CE: 3 eruptions
- 17th century CE: 2 eruptions
- 19th century CE: 1 eruption
Frequently asked questions
When was the last recorded eruption of Orizaba, Pico de?
The latest recorded eruption of Orizaba, Pico de began on July 2, 1846 CE, with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 2.0.
How many confirmed eruptions does Orizaba, Pico de have?
The official record from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 23 confirmed eruptions for Orizaba, Pico de, spanning from 7530 BCE to 1846 CE.
What is the highest VEI recorded for Orizaba, Pico de?
The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Orizaba, Pico de is 5.0.
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.