Sabancaya

Volcán Sabancaya
Aerial view of Sabancaya, the summit in the left background is Ampato
Highest point
Elevation	5,976 metres (19,606 ft)
Prominence	~500 m (1,640 ft)
Coordinates	15°47′13″S 71°51′25″W / 15.787°S 71.857°W / -15.787; -71.857Coordinates: 15°47′13″S 71°51′25″W / 15.787°S 71.857°W / -15.787; -71.857
Geography
Volcán Sabancaya Peru
Location	Southern Peru
Parent range	Andes
Geology
Mountain type	Stratovolcano
Volcanic arc/belt	Central Volcanic Zone
Last eruption	November 2016 (ongoing)

Sabancaya is an active 5,976-metre-high (19,606 ft) stratovolcano in the Andes of southern Peru, about 70 kilometres (43 mi) northwest of Arequipa. It is considered part of the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes, one of the three distinct volcanic belts of the Andes. It includes a number of volcanoes, some of which like Huaynaputina have had large eruptions and others such as Sabancaya and Ubinas have been active in historical time. Sabancaya forms a volcanic complex together with Hualca Hualca to the north and Ampato to the south and has erupted andesite and dacite. Itself it is covered by a small ice cap which leads to the danger of lahars during eruptions.

Sabancaya has generated numerous long lava flows especially during the early Holocene, while activity in the later Holocene has been more explosive. Historical reports indicate eruptions during the 18th century. The volcano awoke back to activity starting from 1986 and culminating into a large eruption in 1990. Since then it has been continuously active with the emission of ash and gas.

The name "Sabancaya" is Quechua and means tongue of fire or spitting volcano, likely a reference to the eruptive activity. The name is attested from 1595, implying that volcanic activity was observed before.

Sabancaya lies northwest from Arequipa, at a distance of c. 70 km (43 mi). The important Rio Colca valley is located north of the Sabancaya-Hualca Hualca-Ampato volcano complex.

The subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate in the Peru-Chile Trench leads to volcanic activity in the Andes. This volcanic activity presently occurs in three segments, the Northern Volcanic Zone, the Central Volcanic Zone and the Southern Volcanic Zone. There is an additional volcanic belt south of the Southern Volcanic Zone, the Austral Volcanic Zone. Sabancaya is located in the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes, which extends through southern Peru. Many volcanoes in the Central Volcanic Zone are poorly known, owing to their remote locations and adverse conditions such as high altitude.