Pico
Stratovolcano in Portugal
Key Facts
Elevation
2,351 m (7,713 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
38.470°, -28.400°
Region
Azores-Terceira Rift Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Rift zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The conical Pico stratovolcano occupies the western end of Pico Island and is the highest volcano in the Azores. The dominantly basaltic edifice lies west of on an older linear volcano with numerous flank cones that forms most of the 46-km-long island. It was constructed over the Montanha volcanic complex on the eastern side of the island and is capped by a 500-m-wide summit crater that is overtopped by a small steep-sided cone.
An eruption beginning in 1562 from the Sao Roque Piedade/Planalto da Achada fissure zone produced lava flows that reached the northern coast. Two fissures erupted on the NNW flank and SE flank of Pico volcano in 1718, with lavas reaching the north and south coasts. Lava flows from a fissure on the SE flank in 1720 reached the ocean.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | 306 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Atlantic Ocean Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 382020
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The conical Pico stratovolcano rising above the clouds is seen here from Fayal Island to the northwest. The 46-km-long Pico Island can be broadly separated into the Pico stratovolcano in the west, the Planalto da Achada fissure zone in the east (a roughly 30-km-long linear ridge of fissures and cones), and the Topo-Lajes volcano in the south. Pico volcano is capped by a 560-m-wide summit crater that contains a small steep-sided cone visible on the left side of the summit in this image. Recent eruptions have been recorded from the flanks of Pico and in the Planalto da Achada fissure zone.
Photo by Rick Wunderman, 1997 (Smithsonian Institution).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.