Corcovado Volcano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Corcovado |
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The volcano seen from the west on a commercial flight.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,300 m (7,500 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Chile |
| Parent range | Andes |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | 4920 BCE ± 100 |
Corcovado Volcano is a tall, cone-shaped volcano in Chile. It's found about 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of the Yelcho River's mouth. This volcano is located in the Palena Province of the Los Lagos Region.
Over time, glaciers have shaped its sides. You can also see smaller, cone-shaped hills made of volcanic ash nearby. The bottom of the volcano has old lava flows, now covered in thick plants. What makes Corcovado special is its top, which looks like steps. This is a bit like another volcano called Puntiagudo Volcano.
There are several lakes at the base of the volcano. Corcovado stands out in the area around the Gulf of Corcovado. On clear days, you can even see it from Chiloé Island!
This volcano and the land around it are part of Corcovado National Park. The town of Chaitén used to be the main way to get into this park. However, much of the town was damaged after a big eruption of Chaitén Volcano in 2008. This eruption caused mudflows called lahars.
When Did Corcovado Erupt?
People have reported that Corcovado erupted in 1834 and 1835. These reports came from people who told their stories to Charles Darwin. Darwin was sailing nearby on the ship HMS Beagle. He felt a huge earthquake in 1835.
After the earthquake, Darwin collected stories from people who saw what happened. Some people thought that several volcanoes had erupted after the earthquake. Because of these stories, some believed Corcovado might have erupted with lava flows. However, it's more likely that people confused Corcovado with another volcano called Michinmahuida.
Scientists have found evidence of three large explosive eruptions from Corcovado. These happened long ago, with the two most recent around 7,980 years ago and 6,870 years ago.
More About Volcanoes
- List of volcanoes in Chile
- Chaitén (volcano) - This volcano is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Corcovado. It erupted on May 2, 2008.
- Yanteles - A lesser-known volcano located about 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Corcovado.
- 180 Degrees South: Conquerors of the Useless - This is a 2010 documentary film. It follows a journey from California to Patagonia, Chile. The goal was to climb Corcovado.
