Copahue

The Copahue is a Stratovolcan located at the border between the Argentine and the Chile.

Argentinian side

Argentinian side, it is located in the Département of Loncopué in province of Neuquén, in the northern part of the Andes of Patagonie. Its solid mass constitutes the Western edge of the Caldeira of Agrio. On its north-eastern side the locality of Copahue is, with its important center of balneotherapy. With its feet, at ten kilometers in the east the other important locality of the sector is located, Caviahue. Finally the whole of the solid mass is included in the territory of the provincial Parc Copahue.

The active crater

Several craters exist on Comahue. Only one is active. One can reach that point to horse since the thermal locality of Copahue, initially using during 4 kilometers the provincial roads nº 26, while turning the back on the Chilean border. By after one goes along the Blanco stream and the small lakes of Mow Mellizas to make a ascencion of about 900 meters on the north-eastern side of the volcano. The sights obtained are increasingly splendid: the Lake Agrio towards south-east, but also the small lakes and lagoons surrounding, and also the Volcano S of the cordillera of Neuquén. One can see the valley Valle of Dama and it (in Chile). The last 100 meters must be done with foot. In many places there is eternal snow.

The crater is extremely deep (300 meters) and its edges precipice. It is occupied by a lake of three hectares, supplied with abundant precipitations, and whose water is heated to 30-40 centigrade degrees by the subjacent emanations. This water is also saturated with mineral products brought by gases going up the chimney of the volcano and of which some are very toxic. It floats a strong sulfur odor.

Water is extremely acid. The lake constitutes the birth of the Río Agrio and its water runs out by a sluice located at the east of the crater in direction of the Lac Agrio

Dangerosity of the volcano

See too

the article on the Caldeira of Agrio
the Lake Agrio.
localities of Copahue and Caviahue.
the Río Agrio
the provincial Park Copahue
the Volcano Villarica

External bonds

Smithsonian Institution' S Total Volcanism Program - Copahue
Description of the volcanic system of Copahue