Corcovado Volcano


Corcovado Volcano is a stratovolcano located about south of the mouth of the Yelcho River, in the Palena Province, Los Lagos Region, Chile. The glacially eroded volcano is flanked by Holocene cinder cones. The volcano's base has likely prehistoric lava flows that are densely vegetated. The most distinctive feature of this volcano is its stepped top, similar to that of Puntiagudo Volcano. At its foot lies a series of lakes. Corcovado dominates the landscape of the Gulf of Corcovado area and is visible from Chiloé Island, weather permitting.
The volcano and the adjacent area form part of Corcovado National Park. The town of Chaitén was formerly the main gateway to this protected area, but much of the town was destroyed by an eruption of Chaitén Volcano and the resultant mudflow in 2008.

Eruptive history

Corcovado has had two unconfirmed eruptions in 1834 and 1835 with lava flows from flank cones, which are probably based on confusion with Michinmahuida volcano. Three tephra layers are linked to Corcovado volcano, of which the two youngest are dated 7,980 BP and 6,870 BP respectively.