Reventador facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Reventador |
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Cone of Reventador in 2012 (V. Scherrer)
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,562 m (11,686 ft) |
| Prominence | 1,086 m (3,563 ft) |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Exploder |
| Language of name | Spanish |
| Geography | |
 Reventador
Location in Ecuador
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| Parent range | Andes |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano (active) |
| Volcanic arc/belt | North Volcanic Zone |
| Last eruption | 2008 to 2023 (ongoing) |
Reventador is an active stratovolcano located in the eastern Andes mountains of Ecuador. It sits in a wild, remote area within a national park that shares its name. The name "Reventador" means "exploder" in Spanish, which is a great name for a volcano!
Since 1541, this volcano has erupted more than 25 times. Because it is in such a faraway place, many of its eruptions have not been officially recorded.
Reventador's Eruptions
The biggest eruption of Reventador in recent history happened in 2002. During this powerful event, a huge cloud of ash and gas shot up from the volcano. It reached an amazing height of 17 kilometers (about 10.5 miles) into the sky!
Hot, fast-moving mixtures of gas and rock, called pyroclastic flows, rushed down the volcano's sides. These flows traveled as far as 7 kilometers (about 4.3 miles) from the main cone. Luckily, because the area is so remote, no one was hurt.
On March 30, 2007, the volcano erupted again, sending ash about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) high. There were no reports of injuries or damage from this eruption either.
Reventador's most recent eruption began on July 27, 2008. It has been erupting on and off ever since, with activity continuing as of October 2021. This means it is one of the most active volcanoes in Ecuador.
Where Reventador Is Located
Reventador is part of a chain of volcanoes in the Cordillera Real mountain range. This chain is located further east than most of the other volcanoes in the region.
The volcano rises high above the thick jungles of the western Amazon basin. Its sides are covered in dense forests, making it a beautiful but powerful natural landmark.
Inside the Volcano
Reventador has a large, bowl-shaped hole at its top called a caldera. This caldera is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) wide. There is a wide gap in the eastern wall of the caldera. This gap was formed when part of the volcano's structure collapsed a long time ago.
Inside this large caldera, there is a newer, smaller volcano growing. This inner volcano is about 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) tall and has no plants growing on it. This is where most of the current volcanic activity happens. The lava that comes out of Reventador is a type called andesitic lava.
In 2020, Reventador was very active. Almost every day, it released clouds of ash that rose one or two kilometers into the air. Sometimes, you could see a glow from the crater at night. There were also frequent avalanches of glowing hot rocks tumbling down its slopes.
See also
- List of volcanoes in Ecuador
- List of stratovolcanoes
