Chaitén, Volcanic caldera in Palena Province, Chile
Chaitén is a volcano in Palena Province, Chile, rising to an elevation of over one thousand meters and formed from pale rhyolite rock. Two small lakes sit on the caldera floor, surrounded by steep slopes of light-colored volcanic material.
The volcano remained inactive for more than nine thousand years before erupting in May two thousand eight, sending a massive ash cloud into the sky. This eruption forced thousands to evacuate and covered the nearby town with ash and volcanic debris.
People living in the region before European contact gathered volcanic glass from the slopes and traded it across southern Patagonia. Tools and arrowheads made from this grey obsidian have been found at sites several hundred kilometers from the source.
Monitoring equipment stands around the volcano, collecting data on seismic activity and potential signs of renewed eruptions. Visitors should check current alerts from Chilean authorities before approaching the area.
The two thousand eight eruption was the first major explosion of rhyolitic magma in over a century worldwide. The force of this event reshaped the landscape around the nearby town, carving new valleys through mudflows and ash streams.
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