Bravo, Cerro (Colombia)

Status Unknown Eruption 1720 3985m
Stratovolcano (Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km))

Cerro Bravo is a relatively low dominantly dacitic lava-dome complex north of Nevado del Ruiz that was constructed within the Pleistocene Quebrada Seca caldera. A series of moderate plinian eruptions during the Holocene were accompanied by pyroclastic flows and lava dome growth. Although historical records of the roughly 4000-m-high Cerro Bravo eruptions have not been found, stratigraphic evidence indicates that it last erupted sometime between the 1595 and 1845 eruptions of Ruiz.

Cerro Bravo is seen from Delgaditas on its east side. The summit dome with a prominent spine was extruded during the most recent eruption. An older lava dome and cone complex is situated to its left. Multiple collapse events sent block-and-ash flows down over viscous lava flows (center) and onto the Plan de Arriba (lower left). The low, tree-covered slope 1/4 of the way from the left side of the photo is the remnant of the pre-Cerro Bravo volcano that was destroyed by a Pleistocene caldera-forming event.

Photo by David Lescinsky, 1988 (University of Western Ontario).

Last updated 2019-08-04 00:28:03