Calbuco, Active stratovolcano in Los Lagos Region, Chile.
Calbuco is an active stratovolcano in the Los Lagos Region of Chile, rising to an elevation of 2,015 meters (6,611 feet). Its summit crater measures between 400 and 500 meters (1,310 and 1,640 feet) across and shows the typical form of a mountain built from layers of andesite rock.
The volcano erupted at least 36 times during the Holocene, with the earliest events stretching back thousands of years. The most recent activity occurred in March 2015, when a series of eruptions sent ash clouds into the atmosphere and forced nearby communities to evacuate.
Named after Mapuche words that describe water moving through the land, the volcano stands at the center of stories told by communities who have watched it for generations. Today visitors hear these accounts from guides who grew up near its slopes and remember the sound of the 2015 eruption echoing across the valleys.
The site lies within Llanquihue National Reserve, roughly 49 kilometers from Puerto Varas, and trails pass through forests that can become slippery during wet weather. Visitors should bring sturdy footwear and check current volcanic activity reports before setting out.
The ash from the 2015 eruption carried large amounts of minerals into coastal waters and led to massive algal growth the following year. Local fishermen noticed the changes quickly when the sea took on an unusual green tint.
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