Nevado del Ruiz, Active stratovolcano in Caldas Department, Colombia
Nevado del Ruiz is an active stratovolcano on the border of the Caldas and Tolima departments of Colombia, reaching 5,321 meters above sea level. Its broad summit holds the Arenas crater, one kilometer across and 240 meters deep, and is covered by glaciers that streak the upper slopes white above dark rock.
An eruption in 1985 generated mudflows that destroyed the town of Armero and killed more than 23,000 people. Since then, the mountain has been continuously monitored to prevent further disasters.
The mountain's name nevado means "snow-covered" in Spanish, while its pre-Columbian names included Kumanday (White Hill) and Tama (Great Father). It also honours Alfonso Ruíz de Sahajosa, a notable figure of Ibagué. The volcano lies within Los Nevados National Natural Park, where mountain refuges, thermal baths and trout fishing at Laguna del Otún draw visitors.
The Colombian Geological Survey operates stations around the volcano to measure seismic activity. This monitoring provides early warnings for residents in the surrounding regions.
Four active fault lines intersect beneath the volcano, creating a geological system that influences its eruptive behavior. This arrangement makes each eruption difficult to predict and adds complexity to scientific monitoring efforts.
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