The volcano video above shows one of the eruptions in 2016.
The colima volcano mexico eruption
The colima volcano mexico with volcanic lightning which occurs in “dirty thunderstorms. ”


The Volcán de Colima, with a height of 3,820 m (12,533 ft), also identified as Volcán de Fuego, is a portion of the Colima Volcanic Complex (CVC) consisting of Volcán de Colima, the eroded El Cántaro (listed as extinct) and the Nevado de Colima.

It is the youngest of the three and, as of 2015, is one of the most numerously active volcanos in Mexico and North America. It has erupted higher than 40 times since 1576. One of the most significant eruptions was on January 20–24, 1913.

Nevado de Colima, also identified as Tzapotépetl, lies 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of its more active neighbour and is the bigger of the two at 4,271 meters (14,015 ft). It is the 26th-most highest peak in North America.

Despite its title, only a fraction of the volcano’s area is in the state of Colima; most of its surface area lies across the border in the neighbouring state of Jalisco, at the western tip of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

It is around 485 km (301 mi) west of Mexico City and 125 km (78 mi) south of Guadalajara, Jalisco.

Since 1869–1878, a parasitic set of domes, collectively identified as El Volcancito, has developed on the volcano’s central cone’s northeast side.

The colima volcano mexico eruption

Geological History

In the late Pleistocene era, an extensive landslide happened at the mountain, with about 25 km³ (6 cubic miles) of debris covering 120 km, reaching the Pacific Ocean. A range of some 2,200 km² was covered in landslide sediments.

The currently active cone is within an enormous caldera produced by a blend of landslides and large eruptions. The lava is an andesite containing 56-61% SiO2.

The Most Dangerous Volcano In Mexico

About 300,000 people reside within 40 km (25 miles) of the volcano, causing it to be the most dangerous volcano in Mexico.

Concerning its history of large eruptions and location in a densely populated region, it was assigned a Decade Volcano, singling it out for examination.

The colima volcano mexico eruption

Current Activity

In current years there have been repeated temporary evacuations of nearby villagers due to endangering volcanic activity.

In 1991, 1998–1999 and from the year 2001 to the present day, Eruptions have taken place with activity being characterised by the extrusion of viscous lava building a lava dome—occasional more intense explosions, forming pyroclastic flows and covering the areas encompassing the volcano with ash and tephra.

The largest eruption in several years happened on May 24, 2005. An ash cloud expanded to more than 3 km over the volcano.

Satellite monitoring showed that the volcanic cloud grew over 110 nautical miles (200 km) west of the volcano in the hours following the eruption. Pyroclastic flows moved 4–5 km from the vent, and lava bombs descended 3–4 km away. Officials set up an exclusion zone within 6.5 km of the summit.

On November 21, in the year 2014, the volcano erupted once again. An ash column was pummelled 5 km into the air, covering townships as far as 25 km away in ash. No deaths were related, and no evacuations were taken out.

There were also eruptions on January 10, 21 and 25, with the ash from the January 21 eruption happening in towns further than 15 miles (24 km) away.

The colima volcano mexico eruption

On July 10 2015, there was another eruption. Another eruption happened on Sunday, September 25, 2016, carrying a plume of ash and smoke 10,000 ft (3048 m) toward the sky. In December 2016, ashes plumes happened once or twice a day.

On Sunday, December 18, 2016, there were three eruptions. The most notable columns of ash stretched 2 kilometres in altitude.

Colima volcano underwent another powerful explosion at 06:27 UTC (00:27 CST) on January 18, 2017. The eruption spat volcanic ash up to 4 km (13,123 feet) overhead the crater.

Colima volcano is regarded as one of the most active volcanoes in North America and one of the most dangerous volcanoes.

It has had higher than 30 periods of eruptions since 1585, including numerous significant eruptions in the late 1990s. Scientific monitoring of the volcano started 20 years before.

The colima volcano mexico eruption

Colima Volcano Eruption Statistics

  • Colima volcano Height: 3,839 metres
  • Latest eruption: Early 2019, still ongoing.
  • Typical eruption style: Dominantly explosive. Formation of lava domes, Vulcanian eruptions and strombolian activity. In near-constant operation since the year 1994.
  • Colima volcano eruptions: 1519, 1560, 1576, 1585, 1590, 1602(?), 1606, 1611-1613, 1622, 1690, 1711, 1743(?), 1744, 1749(?),1769, 1770, 1771, 1780, 1794, 1795, 1804, 1806-1809, 1818, 1819, 1866, 1869, 1870-71, 1872-73, 1874, 1875-78, 1879-80, 1880-81, 1882-84, 1885-1886, 1887, 1889-90, 1890, 1891-92, 1893-1902, 1903, 1904-1906, 1908-09, 1913, 1926-1931(?), 1941(?), 1957-1960, 1961-62, 1963-70, 1973(?), 1975-76, 1977-1982, 1983(?), 1985-86, 1987, 1988(?), 1991, 1994, 1997-2011, 2013-ongoing

The colima volcano mexico eruption

Colima Volcano Background

The Colima volcanic complex is the most notable volcanic heart of the western Mexican Volcanic Belt.

It contains two southward-younging volcanoes, Nevado de Colima (the 4320 m high point of the group) on the north and the 3850-m-high historically volatile Volcán de Colima on the south.

A group of cinder cones of presumable late-Pleistocene age is placed on the base of the Colima graben west and east of the Colima complex structure.

Major slope collapses have occurred regularly from both the Nevado and Colima cones. They have created a heavy apron of debris-avalanche deposits on three sides of the complex. Numerous historical eruptions date back to the 16th century.

The colima volcano mexico eruption

People Also Ask:

What type of volcano is Colima, Mexico?

Its a Stratovolcano
Volcán de Colima (otherwise known as Volcán Fuego) is a young stratovolcano created within a 5-km-wide caldera, breached to the south that has been the root of large debris avalanches.

What is Colima Mexico known for?

Colima is the fourth-smallest state or region in Mexico and has the smallest population of humans, but it has one of Mexico’s lowest unemployment rates and highest living standards. It is also one of 3 Mexican states where Brachypelma hamorii (a type of tarantula) is found, the other two being Michoacán and Jalisco.

What is the most dangerous volcano in Mexico?

Colima (Mexico)

Colima is situated in Jalisco, about 300 miles (482 km) from Mexico City and 78 miles (125 km) from Guadalajara. Approximately 300,000 people reside in just 25 miles (40 km) of Colima, earning it the most dangerous volcano in Mexico.

The colima volcano mexico eruption

Is there a big volcano in Mexico?

Mexico’s Popocatépetl volcano. Popocatépetl is an active stratovolcano, it is 70km (43 miles) southeast of Mexico City.

Is the Colima volcano active?

Colima Volcano, Mexico’s most active, has been exploding since the year 1998. Previously it had been dormant for several years.

The eruption started with several periods of earthquakes underneath the volcano, accompanied by explosions and rockfalls at the peak lava dome as it started to grow.

Further reading

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