What positive effects do volcanoes have on people?

What positive effects do volcanoes have on people?

Volcanoes can provide people with many benefits such as: volcanic rock and ash provide fertile land which results in a higher crop yield for farmers. tourists are attracted to the volcano, which increases money to the local economy. geothermal energy can be harnessed, which provides free electricity for locals.

Is Mount Cotopaxi still active?

Cotopaxi is the Most Active Volcano in Ecuador Despite the lack of recent eruptions, Cotopaxi is still active and has been known to produce ash explosions as well as pyroclastic flows. Sometimes, tours to Cotopaxi will be called off due to the chances of an eruption. The first recorded eruption occurred in 1534.

What city did Cotopaxi destroy 100 years ago?

Latacunga
The 1744 and 1768 events destroyed the colonial town of Latacunga. During the June 26, 1877 eruption, pyroclastic flows descended on all sides of the mountain melting the entire ice cap, with lahars traveling more than 100 km (62 mi) into the Pacific Ocean and western Amazon basin draining the valley.

What can be the possible effects of lahars?

Lahars and excess sediment cause serious economic and environmental damage to river valleys and flood plains. Large lahars can crush, abrade, bury, or carry away almost anything in their paths. Buildings and valuable land may be partially or completely buried.

How do volcanic eruptions impact people?

Health concerns after a volcanic eruption include infectious disease, respiratory illness, burns, injuries from falls, and vehicle accidents related to the slippery, hazy conditions caused by ash. When warnings are heeded, the chances of adverse health effects from a volcanic eruption are very low.

What does the word Cotopaxi mean?

volcano
The highest active volcano in the world, in the Andes in central Ecuador, that rises to 19,142 feet (5,896 m). Its name is Quechuan and means “shining peak.”.

Do people live by Cotopaxi?

Cotopaxi rumbles again The areas around the volcano have been designated as risk zones and the 90,000 people living in them are under yellow alert, preparing for the worst.

What are the effects of Jokulhlaup?

Jökulhlaups with a large landscape impact have been called ‘megafloods’, which have an extremely large channel geometry, flood volume and peak discharge. They can erode gorges and spillways, dry waterfalls (‘cataracts’), streamlined obstacles, scour marks and longitudinal grooves.

What is the effect of livestock inhale volcanic ash?

The resulting ash fall can lead to crop failure, animal death and deformity, and human illness. Ash’s abrasive particles can scratch the surface of the skin and eyes, causing discomfort and inflammation. If inhaled, volcanic ash can cause breathing problems and damage the lungs.

How many people were affected by the Cotopaxi eruption?

An event of similar magnitude if it were to occur today, would directly affect more than 80000 people [Hall and Mothes, 1997, Mothes et al., 1998] (Métaxian et al., 1999). After the eruption in 1877, Cotopaxi continued with mild-to-moderate activity for several years.

Where is Cotopaxi located in the Andes Mountains?

Cotopaxi is an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, located in the Latacunga canton of Cotopaxi Province, about 50 km (31 mi) south of Quito, and 33 km (21 mi) northeast of the city of Latacunga, Ecuador, in South America.

How tall is the Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador?

Cotopaxi is one of Ecuador’s most active volcanoes and, at 5,897m (19,347 ft), its second-highest peak after the Chimborazo. On Friday, it shot ash 12km (seven miles) into the air. Hundreds of people were evacuated from the slopes of the volcano.

Which is the capital city of Cotopaxi Province?

Latacunga is the capital city of the Cotopaxi Province, 55 miles (89 km) south of Quito. The population of Latacunga is about 50,000, largely mestizo (mixed Spanish origin and indigenous). It is 9,055 ft. (2,760 m) above sea level. Its climate is often relatively cold and windy.