Platanar Volcano

GeologyAge of rockHoloceneMountain typeVolcanoLast eruptionUnknown

Platanar Volcano is located in the Cordillera Central mountain range. It is part of a complex that covers 900 square kilometres (220,000 acres) and is dominated by Porvenir Volcano at 2,267 m (7,438 ft). It is located within the Juan Castro Blanco National Park.

Physical aspects

It has a destroyed crater to the northwest.^[2] Prehistoric lava flows on its western flank;^[1] one of them, the so-called Florida flow, was perhaps created by Platanar's most recent activity. Cerro Porvenir has a truncated caldera at the summit with a cone inside.^[2] Both of these are part of a composed stratovolcano of Upper Pleistocene age that on Platanar's side overlies the remains of Palmera's collapsed caldera, of probable late Pleistocene age.^[3] Platanar has erupted lavas ranging from basalts to andesites in composition.^[2]

Social and economic activities

The western flanks of both volcanoes are used for dairy farming.^[4] In 1968 2,500 hectares (6,200 acres) on Cerro Platanar were converted into a National Forest.^[5]

Recent activity

On 30 March 1997 there were six earthquakes on the south flank, the strongest being of magnitude 2.7. A previous seismic swarm in April 1980 had lasted for 2–3 weeks.^[6]

References