Momotombo (Nicaragua)

Status Normal Eruption 2016 1270m
Stratovolcano (Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km))

Momotombo

Momotombo is a young stratovolcano that rises prominently above the NW shore of Lake Managua, forming one of Nicaragua's most familiar landmarks. Momotombo began growing about 4500 years ago at the SE end of the Marrabios Range and consists of a somma from an older edifice that is surmounted by a symmetrical younger cone with a 150 x 250 m wide summit crater. Young lava flows extend down the NW flank into the 4-km-wide Monte Galán caldera. The youthful cone of Momotombito forms an island offshore in Lake Managua. Momotombo has a long record of Strombolian eruptions, punctuated by occasional stronger explosive activity. The latest eruption, in 1905, produced a lava flow that traveled from the summit to the lower NE base. A small black plume was seen above the crater after a 10 April 1996 earthquake, but later observations noted no significant changes in the crater. A major geothermal field is located on the south flank.

Momotombo is a young, 1297-m-high stratovolcano that rises prominently above the NW shore of Lake Managua, forming one of Nicaragua's most familiar landmarks. Seen here from the SW, Momotombo began growing about 4500 years ago and consists of a somma from an older edifice that is surmounted by a younger cone with a 150 x 250 m crater. Young lava flows from Momotombo have flowed down the NW flank into an unnamed, 4-km-wide caldera. Momotombo has a long record of strombolian eruptions, with occasional larger explosive activity.

Photo by Jaime Incer.

Last updated 2021-03-15 06:00:02

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