Nevado del Ruiz is a stratovolcano located in Colombia at an elevation of 5,279 meters, positioned within a subduction zone and continental crust tectonic setting (more than 25 kilometers thick). Official records from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program document a confirmed total of 20 eruptions spanning from ancient history through the 21st century. The volcano features a maximum recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 4.0.
Overview of Recorded Eruption History
The historical and prehistoric record for Nevado del Ruiz includes 20 confirmed eruptions identified through diverse scientific methods, ranging from tephrochronology and isotopic carbon-14 dating to direct historical observations. The earliest recorded activity in the dataset dates back to an approximate start year before 6660 BCE at the Arenas Crater, determined through tephrochronology correlation.
Over the millennia, activity at the volcano has occurred intermittently across multiple centuries. Confirmed eruptions are distributed across various periods, including the 67th century BCE, 9th century BCE, 2nd century BCE, 13th century BCE, 4th century CE, 7th century CE, 14th century CE, 16th century CE, 17th century CE, 19th century CE, 20th century CE, and 21st century CE. Out of the 20 confirmed eruptions, 17 include recorded VEI classifications.
Selected Historical and Recent Eruptions
Documented eruptions at Nevado del Ruiz vary in magnitude, eruptive area, and evidence method. Selected entries from the official record illustrate the range of documented activity:
- 6660 BCE (approximate start, modifier <): An early confirmed eruption at the Arenas Crater identified via tephrochronology correlation.
- 0675 (with a 50-year uncertainty): An eruption at the Arenas Crater with a recorded VEI of 3.0, determined using uncalibrated 14C isotopic evidence.
- 1595-03-09: A reported observation event at the Arenas Crater reaching a VEI of 4.0, representing the largest recorded VEI in the volcano's documented history.
- 1805-03-14: A reported observation event with a recorded VEI of 2.0.
- 2014-11-18 to 2026-03-16: An eruption starting at the Arenas crater on November 18, 2014, and ending on March 16, 2026, with a recorded VEI of 2.0 based on reported observations.
Eruption Distribution by Century
The frequency of confirmed eruptions varies across the centuries cataloged in the official record. The table below details the count of confirmed eruptions by century according to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program data.
| Century | Confirmed Eruptions |
|---|---|
| 67th century BCE | 1 |
| 9th century BCE | 1 |
| 2nd century BCE | 1 |
| 13th century BCE | 1 |
| 4th century CE | 1 |
| 7th century CE | 1 |
| 14th century CE | 1 |
| 16th century CE | 2 |
| 17th century CE | 1 |
| 19th century CE | 5 |
| 20th century CE | 3 |
| 21st century CE | 2 |
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.