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Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge and recent basalt lava flows on La Palma
Photo:Yasuo Miyabuchi
Volcano Dossier•GVP #383010
28.57°N, 17.83°W
Erupted since 2000

Volcano La Palma (Cumbre Vieja)

In 2021 Cumbre Vieja erupted for 85 days, the longest eruption on La Palma in recorded history. Lava destroyed about 3,000 buildings and built new land into the Atlantic. It was preceded by a week of intense earthquake swarms and ground uplift, which allowed timely evacuations.

Last eruption

2021

Erupted since 2000

Summit

2.4 km

Stratovolcano · Trachybasalt

Activity

Normal Baseline

0 events (1.0x rate)

Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map

Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.

Recent seismicity within 50 km

10

0 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.

TimeMagnitudeEpicenter / PlaceDistance
16h agoM1.9Off the coast of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (159 km W, Spain)6.2 km
1mo agoM1.7Off the coast of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (171 km W, Spain)16 km
1mo agoM1.7Off the coast of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (166 km W, Spain)13 km
1mo agoM1.7Off the coast of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (171 km W, Spain)17 km
1mo agoM1.9Off the coast of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (174 km W, Spain)20 km
1mo agoM1.6Off the coast of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (173 km W, Spain)18 km
1mo agoM2.4Off the coast of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (156 km W, Spain)2.8 km
1mo agoM1.6Off the coast of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (161 km W, Spain)8.5 km
1mo agoM1.6Off the coast of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (156 km W, Spain)1.5 km
2mo agoM1.7Off the coast of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (155 km W, Spain)0.7 km

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Stratovolcano

La Palma (Cumbre Vieja) is an active Stratovolcano formed in an active Intraplate / Oceanic crust (< 15 km). Dominant lithology: Trachybasalt.

Edifice TypeStratovolcano
Major rockTrachybasalt
TectonicsIntraplate
Volcanic ArcCanary Volcanic Province

Volcano Dossier

VN #383010

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

CountrySpain
Crater Coordinates28.570°, -17.830°
Summit2.4 km
SubregionCanary Volcanic Province
Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#383010)

Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure

All 18 Networks & VAAC →
Seismic ObservatoryGSN / FDSN
Global Seismographic Network & Regional Centers
Official Portal
ICAO Aviation Ash Center
ICAO Volcanic Ash Advisory Network
International Civil Aviation Organization
VAAC Advisory Desk
Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols

The most recent eruption of La Palma (Cumbre Vieja) recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2021.

Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile