Atacazo volcanAtacazo volcano is part of the Atacazo–Ninahuilca
Volcanic Complex in the Western Cordillera of Ecuador and
located 10 km southwest of the capital of Ecuarod, Quito. The
andesitic Atacazo stratovolcano is a successor of the older La
Carcacha stratovolcano. It was built above a 6 km wide and 900 m
deep caldera. The caldera is breached to the SW and contains 3
Holocene dacitic domes. The youngest lava dome, Ninahuilca,
erupted about 2300 years ago. 2 andesitic lava domes are also
found on the SE flank. Several large Plinian eruptions have
occurred at the volcano during the past 10,000 years and
accompanied the growth of the lava domes. The formation of the
most recent dome, Ninahuilca Chico, was accompanied by explosive
eruptos that produced pyroclastic flows that flowed up to 35 km
distance through valleys towards the west. Introduction:Several
towns built on the deposits of past eruptions and are considered
to be at high risk areas in case of a new major explosive
eruption. These include the tow