Huaynaputina
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The volcano Huaynaputina ( Quechua: New volcano ) is a stratovolcano in the Cordillera Volcánica in the region of Moquegua in southern Peru. As a result of a giant eruption in 1600, in which the summit of the volcano completely exploded, the Huaynaputina has no typical cone shape more. What remains is a rather unspectacular crater, whose highest elevation is at 4850 m.
The outbreak of the February 19, 1600
At the outbreak of Huaynaputina 30 km ³ of volcanic Locker masses ( tephra ) were released, which corresponds to the magnitude 6 on the international Vulkanexplosivitätsindex. He reached only a fifth of the strength of the eruption of Tambora in Indonesia in 1815.
Regional Effects
When the Huaynaputina exploded, initially formed a massive Plinian column which with 27 - far enough up into the stratosphere 35 km altitude. A dense ash rain, which continued into the month of March, as well as earthquakes that accompanied the outbreak, caused immense damage in the larger cities of Arequipa and Moquegua colonial. After the Plinian column had collapsed escaped the volcanic pyroclastic flows, which could penetrate to 13 km to the east and southeast. Likewise destructive were volcanic mudflows called lahars. They made several villages razed to the ground and even reached the Pacific Coast, which is located 120 km away.
It has been reported that ash even in 250-500 km distance came down to the volcano, so in an area which now covers the whole of southern Peru, western Bolivia and northern Chile.
The regional agriculture needed 150 years, until they had fully recovered from this dramatic event.
Global Effects
New geological, dendrochronological and socio - economic studies seem to indicate that the onset of Huaynaputina could have done around the world in a significant cooling. The year 1601 is considered one of the coldest during the Little Ice Age. Due to lower summer temperatures raged 1601 - 1603 the worst famine in the history of Russia, which led to great social unrest.
Historical Sources
Born in Peru, indigenous writer Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala (* 1534 (?) † 1615) wrote in 1615 his famous manuscript El primer nueva y buen gobierno Coronica in which on two sides of the eruption of the volcano Huaynaputina is discussed.
On the sheet 1061 chronicle the city of Arequipa is shown, which is haunted by a rain of ashes. In the main square of the city, a procession is in progress. The original text in Spanish reads: LA CIVDAD DE ARIQVIPA: Rebentó el bolcán cubrió y de la ciudad y arena zeníza y su juridición, comarca; treynta días no se ni bido el sol luna estrellas. Con la ayuda de Dios y de la uirgen Santa María seso, aplacó. Translated to German: The city of Arequipa: The volcano exploded and covered the city and its administrative area with ash and sand. Thirty days could neither sun nor moon, nor see stars. With the help of God and the Blessed Virgin Mary it stopped, calmed down.
On the sheet 1062 is discussed in the text on the destruction that the volcano had caused: Many inhabitants were killed, the vineyards and the seeds have been destroyed. Animals and livestock have died and all of the surrounding valleys haciendas had been destroyed.