The Llaima Volcano is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Chile. It is situated 82 km East of Temuco and 663 km South of Santiago, within the borders of Conguillío National Park.
The top of Llaima consists of two summits; the lower of the two, Pichillaima, is about 2,920 m (9,580 ft) high and is significantly less prominent than the higher northern summit.[2]
The average elevation of the terrain around Llaima is about 740 m asl.[2]
Llaima is one of Chile's most active volcanoes and has frequent but moderate eruptions.[3] Llaima's activity has been documented since the 17th century, and consists of several separate episodes of moderate explosive eruptions with occasional lava flows.[4] A 1640 eruption is thought to have contributed to a pause in the Arauco War between the Spanish and Mapuches established at the Parliament of Quillín in 1641.[5] Possibly Mapuches interpreted the eruption as a signal sent from spirits known as pillanes.[5]
An 1874–76 eruption caused various lava flows, landslides, lahars, and the fall of volcanic ash. After this eruption the volcano became known as Llaima or Yaima.[6] Prior to that it had been known as Chañel a Mapuche word in reference to the pointy shape of its summit before the eruption.[6]
The last major eruption occurred in 1994.[7] An eruption on January 1, 2008, forced the evacuation of hundreds of people from nearby villages. A column of smoke approximately 3000 m high was observed. An amateur caught the early eruption phase on video.[8] The volcanic ash expelled by Llaima travelled east over the Andes into Argentina. Ash fall was recorded in the area of Zapala, Neuquén Province, and forced the cancellation of flights to and from Presidente Perón Airport near the city of Neuquén.[9] On July 2, 2008, another eruption resulted in evacuation of 40 people from a 15 km exclusion zone.[10]
An eruption occurred on April 5, 2009, with pyroclastic flows, ash and lava seen on the slopes.[citation needed]
For the 2010–30 period an eruption of Volcanic Explosivity Index 2 or more is expected based on statistics.[3] As of 2020 such eruption has not happened. Research that models the internal architecture of the volcano indicate that Llaima has reached its maximum height and that any large eruption of lava will likely occur from flank vents and not from the summit.[11]
Petit-Breuilh Sepúlveda, María Eugenia (2004). La historia eruptiva de los volcanes hispanoamericanos (Siglos XVI al XX): El modelo chileno (in Spanish). Huelva, Spain: Casa de los volcanes. ISBN84-95938-32-4.
