Pinta

Shield in Ecuador

Key Facts

Elevation

729 m (2,392 ft)

Type

Shield

Location

0.586°, -90.755°

Region

Northern Galapagos Volcanic Province

Rock Type

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone

Location

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Overview

The elongated island of Pinta is a shield volcano with numerous cones and lava flows originating from NNW-trending fissures. A steep sea cliff truncates the W flank. The unvegetated lava flows that cover the SE and N flanks appear to have been erupted during the past few thousand or few hundred years (McBirney and Williams, 1969).

Although an eruption was reported in 1928 (U. S. Hydrographic Office, 1938), no description or source of that event is given, so it is considered uncertain; no confirmed or dated eruptions are known.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate

Infrastructure RiskModerate

Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Silica Content

Low (45-52% SiO₂)

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone

Continental rift or intraplate setting with varied eruptive styles.

Age & Formation

Epoch

Holocene

Evidence

Eruption Observed

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	Unknown	Historical	Historically active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program

International eruption database

Current Status

Normal

No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

Nearby Volcanoes in Eastern Pacific Volcanic Regions

Regional Volcanic Activity

The Eastern Pacific Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

Quick Info

•Smithsonian ID: 353070
•Evidence: Eruption Observed
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

The elongated island of Pinta is the northernmost of the active Galápagos volcanoes. This view from the summit of Pinta looks down on pyroclastic cones and lava flows on the southern flank of the shield volcano. Numerous young cones and lava flows originated from NNW-trending fissures cutting the island. The fresh, unvegetated lava flows that cover the SE and northern flanks appear to have been erupted during the past few thousand or few hundred years. The island in the distance is Marchena volcano.

Photo by Andrew Cullen, 1984 (University of Oregon, courtesy of Ed Vicenzi, Smithsonian Institution)