La Cumbre (Galápagos Islands) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids La Cumbre |
|
|---|---|
La Cumbre, as seen from the International Space Station.
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,476 metres (4,843 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Fernandina Island, Galápagos Islands |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Shield volcano |
| Last eruption | January 2020 |
La Cumbre is an active shield volcano located on Fernandina Island in the amazing Galápagos Islands. It is the youngest volcano in the Galápagos and also the most active one. Its peak reaches an elevation of 1,476 meters (4,842 feet).
What is La Cumbre Volcano?
La Cumbre is a type of volcano called a shield volcano. This means it has gentle slopes and looks like a warrior's shield lying on the ground. It forms from many lava flows that spread out over a large area.
This volcano is very active and has erupted many times. When it erupts, lava flows down its sides. Sometimes, parts of the volcano's top, called the caldera floor, can collapse. This often happens after big eruptions.
Recent Eruptions and Their Impact
La Cumbre began erupting again in April 2009. When lava flows into the ocean, it can change the environment. People were worried that the lava might harm the unique plants and animals living on Fernandina Island. The lava flows covered a large part of the island during this time.
On Saturday, June 16, 2018, La Cumbre erupted again after some strong ground shaking. This shaking is called seismic activity. A crack, known as a fissure, opened up on the volcano's side.
Hot lava shot up like fountains from this crack. A large stream of lava quickly flowed all the way to the ocean. Gas clouds from this eruption rose very high, reaching 2 to 3 kilometers (about 1 to 2 miles) into the sky. Luckily, these clouds did not cause problems because they had very little ash.
The volcano had another eruption on January 12, 2020, showing it is still very active.
See also
In Spanish: La Cumbre (Ecuador) para niños
