Nevado del Huila

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Nevado del Huila

Nevado del Huila as viewed from the southeast in 1993
Elevation 5,365 metres (17,602 ft)
Location Flag of Colombia Colombia
Range Cordillera Central
Coordinates 2.93° N 76.03° W
Type Stratovolcano
Volcanic arc/belt Andean Volcanic Belt
Last eruption 2008

Nevado del Huila, at 5,365 metres (17,602 ft), is the highest volcano in Colombia, located in Huila Department. Over the years, the amount of snow on the volcano has been decreasing. After being dormant for more than 500 years, the volcano showed heavy signs of activity in 2007. As of February 20, 2007 there have been more than 7000 "minor" seismic events, and a high state of alert is currently in place for the departments of Cauca, Huila, Caldas and Valle del Cauca.[1] An eruption could result in a tragedy for the small villages around the volcano, mostly Paez, Cauca where their habitants still have in the memory the eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano and the destruction of Armero.

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[edit] 2007 eruption

On April 18, 2007 the volcano erupted twice causing avalanches into the Paez River, this event caused water levels to rise along the Magdalena River. Some 4,000 people have been evacuated with no casualties reported.[2][3]

[edit] 2008 activity and eruption

Nevado del Huila became active again in March 2008. After a multitude of earthquakes inside the volcano, Colombian authorities declared a state of yellow alert on March 18.[4] The state of alert was increased to orange on March 29, meaning an eruption could be expected within days or weeks. Hundreds of people were evacuated.[5] On 14 April 2008 at 11:08 pm, an ash eruption took place, prompting the government to issue a red alert and evacuate 13,000 to 15,000 people from around the mountain.[6] The state of red alert was again lowered to orange on April 16, following diminished activity.[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ (Spanish) Reducción de actividad sísmica de Nevado del Huila aligera estado de emergencia en zonas cercanas, El Tiempo, February 20, 2007. Accessed February 20, 2007.
  2. ^ (Spanish) Mudslides occurred, but like in many eruptions, lava was not present.Destrucción de cuatro puentes y numerosos cultivos deja a su paso avalancha en el Cauca, El Tiempo
  3. ^ Thousands flee from Colombia volcano
  4. ^ Yellow alert for Colombian volcano Nevado del Huila
  5. ^ Sate of alert volcano Nevado del Huila raised to orange
  6. ^ Colombian volcano erupts in shower of hot ash; authorities declare alert, International Herald Tribune, April 15, 2008.
  7. ^ Reduced activity Nevada de Huila volcano, Colombia Reports, April 16, 2008.

[edit] External links

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