Colombian volcanoes and Los Nevados National park

The Andes are the longest chain of mountains along the South American continent. With 7000 km long, and many volcanos along the range; all volcanos differ from composition, style and morphology.

The Norther volcanic zone (NVZ) flows from Colombia to Ecuador with 74 volcanos. Colombian Volcanos are located in the “Cordillera central” with 19 Volcanos; These located close to small rural places represent a big hazards to the country.

Many of the volcanos in the “Cordillera central” (CC) start the activity from the early Pleistocene with several eruptive stages. El “Nevado del Ruiz”, is one of these; one of the biggest and more destructive volcano in the country, with the tragedy of Armero in 1985, where 25.000 people perish under the mantle of indescriptible forces.

Tolima, Quindio, Risaralda and Caldas departments share the limits of the National park Los Nevados, a park with 30 calderas and 8 volcanos.

Santa Isabel volcano has a domed structure, constructed over a solid metamorphic base, dated from the Palaeozoic era, and sedimentary volcanic rock from the Mesozoic.
Tolima Volcano a stratovolcano formed mainly by lava emissions, pyroclastic waves, “lahar” and ashes.