Tungurahua, (pronounced
/t??g?'r??w?/), (
Quichua tunguri (throat),
rahua (fire) "Throat of Fire"
[2]) is an active
stratovolcano located in the
Cordillera Central of
Ecuador. The volcano gives its name to the province of
Tungurahua. Volcanic activity restarted in 1999 and is ongoing
as of 2008 with major eruptions on
August 16,
2006 and on
February 6,
2008.
Tungurahua (5,023 m) is located in the Cordillera Central of the Andes of central Ecuador, 140 km (87 miles) south of the capital Quito. Nearby notable mountains are the Chimborazo (6,267 m) and El Altar (5,319 m). It rises above the small thermal springs town Baños (1,800 m) which is located at its foot 5 km to the north. Other nearby towns are Ambato (30 km to the northwest) and Riobamba (30 km to the southwest). Tungurahua is part of the Sangay National Park.
With its elevation of 5,023 m Tungurahua just over tops the snow line (about 4,900 m). Tungurahua's top is snow covered and did feature a small summit glacier which melted away after the increase of volcanic activity in 1999.
Today's volcanic edifice (Tungurahua III) is constructed inside its predecessor's (Tungurahua II) caldera which collapsed about 3000 (±90) years ago. The original edifice (Tungurahua I) collapsed at the end of the late Pleistocene. (IG-EPN n.d., [2])
