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considered one of the most active volcanoes in South America in
recent times. This continous eruptive stratovolcano
is located at 2°03´S
and 78°34´W, 40 km
northeast of Riobamba,
the capital of Chimborazo provinces. The steep sided composite
volcanic cone, which arose from an older horseshoe shaped caldera
reaches a height of 5230m. The top is sometimes covered by snow but because of its
ongoing eruptions and activity no permanent ice field has itself
established. |
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On top of the volcano exist three craters,
with two of them not showing much
activity except hot water steam
and gases escaping through vents. The third
one, which is the largest and from where eruptions
take place, is to the east towards the Amazon. So it seems that the major
chimney, from where the magma reaches the surface,
wandered over time from west to east, creating new
openings on its way. Photo taken by the
author on January 8th of 2004. |
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There are records of frequent eruptions over the last
centuries with intervals of lesser activities. But as the volcano is located
in a very remote area, which is difficult to get to and where no people live, it is not monitored by authorities and most
reports are from infrequent excursions to the volcano
(read some of my own below). But it is known
that periods of almost continuous eruptions occurred from 1728 till 1916
and then from 1934 to our present times. |
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Report of my
own
first visit to Sangay
(January,
1994)
Getting
to Sangay volcano is one of the more difficult but at the
same time most rewarding treks in Ecuador.
Our trek started in
Aloa, where one has to find native guides, who know the route
through this remote and uninhabited region. Long hours, bad weather, muddy
trails, river crossings, heavy load as all gear
and food has to be carried by oneself, etc.. are all part of the adventure.
Finally on the second day, just before sundown, we got our first
glimpse of the colossus and it was an eerie one with the black
cone shaded by gray nightfall, which gave us already a foreboding
feeling. Once we arrived at the base camp at the foot of the
volcano, we put up our tents and got ourselves ready for the
midnight climb to the peak. Lying in the warmth of our sleeping
bags and trying to get some kind of sleep, we heard a tremendous
explosive noise
around 10 pm, which made us all jump out of our bags. Looking
towards the volcano we saw huge fireballs running down the flanks of the cone at an incredible
speed. What an exciting event to observe but somehow after that
nobody felt the urge to rise up later for an scheduled intent to climb
to the
peak.
Note: Photos to the right by the
author taken in 2002 (not 1994). |
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Updates from my latest visits to Sangay:
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January, 7th of 2002
Volcano displayed regular eruptions at an interval of around 20
minutes with visible fumaroles of mostly water vapor and some gases,
which reach a height of about 1 km. Each third explosion was a
larger one with twice as high a column and (at night) visible
pyroclastic flow to the east, towards the Amazon.
On top of the volcano, many small fumaroles steamed out from the
first but especially the second older crater. The major and eruptive third
crater was constantly shrouded in vapor. |
December, 19th
of 2002
Volcano was
fairly quiet
with no visible or audible indications, which could be observed
from the base of the volcano. As foggy conditions
prevailed, it was also hard to observe.
Only on top one could observe small ash eruptions from
the big third crater, which reached several hundred meters in height.
On top of the volcano, hot air still steam out from the first and
in particular the second crater through smaller vents.
The major and eruptive third crater was
shrouded in clouds. |
January, 8th of 2004
Volcano had
eruptions occassionally with ash columns up to 1 km. The
intervals of those were very random. The rumbling of the volcano
could be heard till Plaza Pampa, our campsite some 20 km farther
away. On top of the volcano, the first and second crater
showed very little activities.
Only in a few spots did hot air escape but much less than in the
visit a year ago. The explosions however in the third crater were
considerable larger and comparable to the ones two years ago. |
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Latest Update: |
Danger alert:
none as it is not monitored
Continous eruptions with ash columns and fumaroles
can be observed on clear days and pyroclastic
and lava flows at night. |
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