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Wolf

Shield in Ecuador

Last Eruption: 2022

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

Loading map...

Eruption Timeline

2022 CENotable

Most recent confirmed eruption

2002 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1977 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1974 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1944 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1937 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1927 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1925 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1918 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1903 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1883 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1876 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1866 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1836 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1806 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1804 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

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

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskHigh
    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

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded Eruptions16ModerateModerately active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI 4MajorRegional impact potential
    Recent Activity4 years agoVery RecentCurrently active

    Monitoring & Alert Status

    Monitoring Networks

    Global Volcanism Program
    International eruption database

    Current Status

    Active
    Recent volcanic activity detected. Continuous monitoring in place.

    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: 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).

    Basic Information

    This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.