Smithsonian Global Volcanism ProgramVNUM 352030

Antisana

Northern Andean Volcanic Arc, Ecuador. This page separates the permanent volcano catalogue, historical eruption records, and selective weekly activity reports.

Coordinates: 0.48° S, 78.14° W
Elevation: 5,753 m
Last recorded eruption: 1802 CE
Historical eruption records: 3
Primary type: Stratovolcano
Evidence: Eruption Observed
GVP database: 5.4.0
Catalogue revision: Revision 2

Volcano profile

Volcanic landform: Composite
Tectonic setting: Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Geologic epoch: Holocene
Major rock type: Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Region: South America Volcanic Regions
Subregion: Northern Andean Volcanic Arc

Geological summary

Antisana is a massive, glacier-covered stratovolcano NE of Cotopaxi, along the western margin of the Eastern Cordillera, 50 km SE of Quito. An older edifice forming the east side of the volcano was constructed over granitic and metasedimentary rocks and is itself overtopped on its NW side by the current edifice. Viscous lava flows have issued from radial fissures on the flanks. A lava flow was erupted from a vent NNE of the summit during 1801-1802.

Separate activity dataset

Weekly volcanic activity reports

Preliminary and selective

Smithsonian/USGS weekly reports are selective and preliminary. They are not a comprehensive list of all eruptions or volcanic activity.

No weekly report appears on this page. Absence from the weekly report does not establish an absence of volcanic activity.

Historical catalogue records

Eruption history

Dates can be approximate, incomplete, or BCE. These are historical catalogue observations, not a statement about present activity.

Historical Smithsonian GVP eruption records with original chronology, confirmation state, VEI, evidence, and source links.
Start	End	Activity	Confirmation	VEI	Evidence	Record
1801-07-02 CE (day uncertainty +/- 182)	1802-05-16 CE (day qualifier ?, day uncertainty +/- 15)	Confirmed EruptionVolcano Uncertain: possibly Reventador	Confirmed	2	Not supplied	GVP 11427Database 5.4.0
< 1748 CE	Not supplied	Confirmed EruptionVolcano Uncertain: possibly Reventador	Confirmed	?2	Not supplied	GVP 11425Database 5.4.0
1728 CE	Not supplied	Uncertain Eruption	Uncertain	0	Not supplied	GVP 11505Database 5.4.0

Source and attribution

Source: Data: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program, Volcanoes of the World.

View the original Smithsonian GVP record

Global Volcanism Program, 2026. Volcanoes of the World 5.4.0.

The GVP database is scientific documentation that changes as evidence is reviewed. Historical dates may be approximate or uncertain. This platform is not an official emergency-warning service.

Read the GVP terms of use

Data freshness

Source updated: Not supplied
Retrieved: 11 Oct 2026, 13:07 UTC
GVP database version: 5.4.0
Catalogue revision: 2

Source-update and retrieval times describe this catalogue record. Each weekly report carries its own publication date and preliminary status.