How old is Chaitén volcano?
Dormant for more than 9,000 years, the Chaiten Volcano in southern Chile began to erupt on May 2, 2008, forcing thousands of residents from their homes.
What type of volcano is Chaitén?
caldera volcano
Chaiten is a caldera volcano located in Chile. In May 2, 2008 it started erupting and continued on till late November for the first time in 9,400 years (Lara, 2009). The unique thing was it was the first large-scale plinian rhyolitic eruption to be observed.
How big is the Chaitén volcano?
3 kilometres
Chaitén is a volcanic caldera 3 kilometres (2 mi) in diameter, 17 kilometres (11 mi) west of the elongated ice-capped Michinmahuida volcano and 10 kilometres (6 mi) northeast of the town of Chaitén, near the Gulf of Corcovado in southern Chile.
How long did the Chaitén eruption last?
6 hours
On May 2, 2008, Chile’s Chaitén volcano erupted with an ash column that rose to about 17 km (10 mi) and lasted for 6 hours.
Why did Chaitén erupt?
This low angle of subduction may explain the relative lack of volcanic activity in the northern part of Chile, compared to the extremely active southern volcanic mountains, which was the cause of the Chaitén eruption. This volcano has a history of eruptions but in human terms it is infrequent.
How was the Chaitén volcano formed?
Chaitén is a caldera volcano formed when the magma chamber beneath a volcano completely empties during an eruption, causing the summit to collapse into it. The collapse creates a circular depression. Prior to its May 2008 eruption, the volcano had been dormant for more than 9,000 years.
How many people died in Chaitén volcano?
Following the initial blast, the town of Chaitén was buried under more than a meter of ash; it was then flooded by heavy rainfall and inundated by the Chaitén River as it carved a new channel through the ash. Evacuations emptied the town of its 5,000 residents, and only one person was killed.
How did the Chaitén volcano form?
Why did Chaitén volcano erupt?
Eventually, hot blocks of lava break away from the dome, triggering a fast-moving avalanche of hot volcanic ash, gas, and lava, called a pyroclastic flow. On May 6, the volcano began to erupt with pyroclastic material, forcing the complete evacuation of the town of Chaitén, said Reuters.
Why did Chaiten erupt?
What caused the Chaiten eruption?
How many people died in Chaiten volcano?
Where is Chaiten?
Chaitén (/tʃaɪˈtɛn/, chy-TEN) is a Chilean town, commune and former capital of the Palena Province in Los Lagos Region. The town is north of the mouth of Yelcho River, on the east coast of the Gulf of Corcovado. The town is strategically close to the northern end of the Carretera Austral, where the highway goes inland.
How many people died in the Chaiten volcano?
There have been no reports of deaths, injuries or serious health problems related to the volcanic eruption; at least 4,500 people have been evacuated.