Puracé is an
andesitic
Andesite () is a volcanic rock of intermediate composition. In a general sense, it is the intermediate type between silica-poor basalt and silica-rich rhyolite. It is fine-grained (aphanitic) to porphyritic in texture, and is composed predomina ...
stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a typically conical volcano built up by many alternating layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile with ...
located in the
Puracé National Natural Park in the
Cauca Department
Cauca Department (, ) is a department of Southwestern Colombia. Located in the southwestern part of the country, facing the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Valle del Cauca Department to the north, Tolima Department to the northeast, Huila De ...
,
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...
. It is part of the
North Volcanic Zone of the
Andean Volcanic Belt
The Andean Volcanic Belt is a major volcanic belt along the Andean cordillera in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It is formed as a result of subduction of the Nazca plate and Antarctic plate underneath the South Americ ...
. The volcano is located at the intersection of the
Coconucos and
Morras Faults.
[Plancha 365, 2003]
It is one of the most active volcanoes in Colombia. Large explosive eruptions occurred in 1849, 1869, 1885, 1949, 1950, 1956, and 1957. There were about a dozen eruptions in the 20th century, the most recent being in 1977, until 19 January 2025 when Puracé once again erupted. On this occasion, volcanic ash was deposited away.
Fumarole
A fumarole (or fumerole) is a vent in the surface of the Earth or another rocky planet from which hot volcanic gases and vapors are emitted, without any accompanying liquids or solids. Fumaroles are characteristic of the late stages of volcani ...
s were seen near the summit in 1990, and hot springs emerged from some of the lower slopes.
Th

__TOC__
Panorama
See also
*
List of volcanoes in Colombia
*
List of volcanoes by elevation
A list (incomplete) of volcanoes on Earth arranged by elevation in metres.
Above 6,000 metres
Above 5,000 metres
Above 4,000 metres
Above 3,000 metres
Above 2,000 metres
Above 1,000 metres
Below 1,000 metres
Measured ...
References
Bibliography
*
External links
*
Mountains of Colombia
Stratovolcanoes of Colombia
Active volcanoes
Andean Volcanic Belt
Biosphere reserves of Colombia
19th-century volcanic events
20th-century volcanic events
Holocene stratovolcanoes
Quaternary Colombia
Geography of Cauca Department
Four-thousanders of the Andes
{{Colombia-geo-stub