New Delhi: There are several active volcanoes in the world which have recent history of eruptions and the Villarrica is one of them. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Chile which rises above the lake and town of the same name. Also called the Rucapillán, a Mapuche word which means ” the demon’s house” or the “great spirit’s house”, it is a popular tourist spot during the month of summer. In this article, we will take a look at the volcano and its eruptions in recent years.
Villarrica: An active volcano which continues to fascinate researchers
Villarica is located on Chilean Central Valley’s east as the westernmost of an alignment of three large stratovolcanoes. The other two volcanoes in the chain Lanín and Quetrupillán are less active. The total area covered by the Villarrica is 400 sq km. It has around 26 scoria scones and volcanic caves. At the lava lake of the volcano, the continuous degassing makes the otherwise quite effusive lava more vicious which increases the volcano’s potential to explode.
During the Middle Pleistocene which took place thousands of years ago, the Villarica emerged and became a large stratocone of similar dimensions to the current structure. Notably, Villarrica’s upper portion is covered by snow permanently. Its glaciers cover around 40 sq km of area with the Pichillancahue-Turbio Glacier being the largest, which is located on its southeastern flank.
The eruptions of Villarrica
As has been mentioned, the Villarrica is one of the most active volcanoes in Chile. Since the conquest of Chile and when the city of Villarrica was founded in 1552, the eruption of the volcano has been recorded. Most of its major eruptions took place in 1558 and 1562 and several eruption took place in the 16th century’s second half. It was once an important gold and silver mining centre but the mining activity declined over the years. In the 20th century, its eruptions took place in 1963 and 1964, and also in 1971 in which at least 15 people died. In the 21st century, it erupted on February 7, 2015, which resulted in the issuance of a yellow alert.
The tourism at Villarrica
The Villarrica is one of the few active volcanoes in the world which have an active lava lake within its crater. It is popular for climbing activities along with a guide to the crater from the Pucon town. Since 2007, tourists can avail of a helicopter to witness the volcano from above. On the nothern slopes, a ski resort operates between July and September. Christopher Heussner of Texas was the youngest person to reach its summit in 1999 at the age of 19.
Villarrica, an active stratovolcano in Chile, boasts a fascinating history of eruptions, with significant events documented since 1552. Its active lava lake and stunning landscape make it a popular tourist destination, offering hiking, skiing, and helicopter tours. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
