Like all of the Canary Islands, the island of Fuerteventura was also constructed via
volcanic activity.
From satellite, it appears to be merely an extension of the Saharan desert, due to its
rich sand.
However, satellite reveals something else.
In the central eastern section of the island are a number of dark black lava flows.
The 4 cinder cones these flows originated from erupted within the last 10,000 years,
meaning that this island still contains an active volcano.
Although no eruptions have recorded in historical times, the long history of this island and
its volcanoes means that it will erupt again.
This video will discuss this volcano, which is the least volcanically active of the 6
active volcanoes in the Canary Islands.
The Canary islands can be found several hundred kilometers west of the coast of Morocco.
The island of Fuerteventura is the oldest of the 7 main Canary Islands, and thus has
a long geologic history.
The reason this island exists is due to an ancient hotspot which is also responsible
for its modern volcanic activity.
This hotspot is known as the Canary hotspot, and has been slowly moving westwards, forming
islands along the way, and creating modern eruptions such as the ongoing eruption on
La Palma.
The Fuerteventura volcano began forming 20.6 million years ago, when a series of fissures
opened on the ocean floor, thus erupting a large volume of lava.
Over the next several hundred thousand years, hundreds of eruptions built this volcano until
it finally reached the ocean surface.
One of the first areas to reach the surface is now located adjacent to the town of Ajui.
By 19.5 million years ago, only 10% of the modern island had been constructed.
During the next phase of activity, eruptions propagated both north and south of the existing
fissure.
This fissure had a prominent curve to it, causing the island to curve to the west.
Eventually, two islands merged into one, as both effusive and explosive eruptions occurred.
You might note that the southern section of Fuerteventura is wider to the eastern side
of the rift than to the west.
This was not always the case.
The prominent ridge seen today represents a supermassive collapse scar, where more than
20 cubic kilometers of the existing volcanic edifice slid into the ocean approximately
17 million years ago.
Eruptions from this period of activity can be recognized today due to their highly eroded
nature and overall gray coloration interspersed with layers of sand.
Additional effusive eruptions continued until approximately 12 million years ago when the
volcano became dormant.
This period of dormancy continued until 3 million years ago when a group of uniquely
shaped lavas known as pillow basalts erupted.
This occurred due to the much higher sea-level at the time, causing many eruptions near what
is now the coast to occur beneath the ocean.
Once the sea level receded, more eruptions occurred, expanding the northwest section
of the island.
Over the last 1 million years, cinder cone forming eruptions have become the norm, and
have only occurred on the northern half of Fuerteventura.
These eruptions covered large areas with black basaltic lava.
These cinder cone forming eruptions appear to have occurred about once every 20,000 years.
As an example, the vent known as Montana de la Arena, covered an area of 10 square kilometer
with lava and appears to be 200,000 years old.
Approximately 10,000 years ago, a new fissure opened up adjacent to the city of Las Casitas.
In a single eruption, four cinder cone formed across a 6 kilometer line of activity.
Although this appears to be the most recent site of an eruption on the island, the small
Isla de Lobos to the north of the main island is estimated to have formed a mere 7,000 years
ago.
Although possible, I estimate this island to instead be 70,000 years old.
The next eruption to occur on Fuerteventura will likely not begin for several thousand
years.
It will originate from 1 of 4 locations, which are marked on screen.
Any eruption would form a cinder cone, and cover up to 20 square kilometers with a thick
layer of lava.
I hope that you enjoyed this video!
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