No latest activity reported for Cuicocha.

Below is a summary of eruption dates and Volcanic Explosivity Indices (VEI).

The following references are the sources used for data regarding this volcano. References are linked directly to our volcano data file. Discussion of another volcano or eruption (sometimes far from the one that is the subject of the manuscript) may produce a citation that is not at all apparent from the title. Additional discussion of data sources can be found under Volcano Data Criteria.

Hall M L, 1977. {El Volcanismo en El Ecuador}. Quito: Biblioteca Ecuador, 120 p

Hall M L, 1992. . (pers. comm.)

Hillebrandt-M C G von, 1989. The evolution of Cuicocha volcano and the volcanic hazards associated with it (abs). {New Mexico Bur Mines Min Resour Bull}, 131: 283

Padron E, Hernandez P A, Toulkeridis T, Perez N M, Marrero R, Melian G, Virgili G, Notsu K, 2008. Diffuse CO2 emission rate from Pululahua and the lake-filled Cuicocha calderas, Ecuador. {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 176: 163-169

The scenic lake-filled Cuicocha caldera is located at the southern foot of the sharp-peaked Pleistocene Cotacachi stratovolcano about 100 km north of Quito. Both Cotacachi and Cuicocha were constructed along the Otavalo-Umpalá fracture zone. Eruptive activity at Cuicocha began about 4500 years ago and continued until about 1300 years ago. The 3-km-wide, steep-walled caldera was created during a major explosive eruption about 3100 years ago that produced nearly 5 cu km of pyroclastic-flow and -fall deposits. Cuicocha contains four intra-caldera lava domes that form two steep-sided forested islands in the 148-m-deep lake. A pre-caldera Cuicocha lava dome is situated on the outer east side of the caldera. Pyroclastic-flow deposits cover wide areas around the low-rimmed caldera, primarily to the east. Gas emission continues from several locations in the caldera lake.