Wolf
Shield in Ecuador
Key Facts
Elevation
1,710 m (5,610 ft)
Type
Shield
Location
0.020°, -91.350°
Region
Galapagos Hotspot Volcano Group
Total Eruptions
16
Max VEI
VEI 4
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Rift zone
Location
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Eruption Timeline
Most recent confirmed eruption
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Overview
Volcán Wolf, the highest volcano of the Galápagos Islands, straddles the equator at the north end of the archipelago's largest island, Isabela. The edifice has steeper slopes than most other Isabela volcanoes, reaching angles up to 35°. The summit caldera is 6 x 7 km across and 700 m deep.
A prominent bench on the west side of the caldera rises 450 m above the caldera floor, much of which is covered by a lava flow erupted in 1982. Radial fissures concentrated along diffuse rift zones extend down the N, NW, and SE flanks, and submarine vents lie beyond the N and NW fissures. Similar unvegetated flows originating from a circumferential chain of spatter and scoria cones on the eastern caldera rim drape the forested flanks to the sea.
The proportion of aa lava flows exceeds that of other Galápagos volcanoes. An eruption in in 1797 was the first observed and documented in the Galápagos Islands.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | 16 | Moderate | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI 4 | Major | Regional impact potential |
| Recent Activity | 4 years ago | Very Recent | Currently active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Eastern Pacific Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 353020
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Wolf, the highest volcano of the Galápagos Islands, is located near the equator at the N end of the archipelago's largest island, Isabela. The summit caldera is 5.5 x 7 km and 600 m deep, with recent lava flows covering the broad caldera floor. Prominent unvegetated lava flows are visible on the flanks to the sea. Wolf's 1797 eruption was the first documented in the Galápagos Islands.
Photo by Lee Siebert, 1978 (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.