The highest volcano has erupted on the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador. Ash, gas and lava flows are causing unrest. Ash clouds rise up to 3800 meters.
Puerto Villamil – The highest volcano has erupted in the Galápagos Islands. On Friday (January 7th, 2022) gas, ash and lava began to emerge from the earth elevation with the name Wolf. Even if no people are affected, there is an imminent danger from the volcanic eruption.
The Galápagos Islands in the Pacific are part of the South American Republic of Ecuador, albeit around a thousand kilometers from the mainland. The Wolf volcano is located on Isabela, which is the largest island in the Galápagos Archipelago with a surface area of around 4500 square kilometers. Six volcanoes are active on Isabela, with Wolf being the highest of them at around 1700 meters. The volcano has been dormant since 2015 – until now.
| Surname | wolf |
| position | Galápagos Island Isabela |
| height | 1707 meters |
| Diameter of the crater | 6 to 7 kilometers |
| Depth of the crater | 700 meters |
Volcanic eruption in the Galápagos Islands: flora and fauna threatened
The outbreak was reported by the Geophysical Institute of Ecuador on their website. The institute reports of gas and ash clouds at heights of up to 3800 meters above sea level – more than twice as high as the volcano itself. The institute also speaks of lava flows on the island of Isabela and warns against approaching them. The interaction between burning lava and sea water can lead to explosions.
Unlike the volcanic eruption on the island of La Palma in September 2021, there are no inhabited areas near the eruption site. Instead, the threat is to the islands’ unique flora and fauna.
Volcanic eruption on the Galápagos Islands: world natural heritage under threat
The Galápagos Islands are home to many animal and plant species that are unique to them. Some of them are critically endangered, such as the pink iguana. The archipelago is part of the Unesco World Heritage Site because of such peculiarities. The volcanic eruption now poses an immediate danger to nature on the islands, as the news site El Comercio reports.
It is unclear to what extent the eruption of the volcano has already affected the nature of the Galápagos Islands. However, the pictures show how the burning lava makes its way through the overgrown area on Isabela. It remains to be seen how the Ecuadorian authorities will react to the outbreak. (vbu / dpa)
