The   47-km-long   wedge-shaped   island   of   La   Palma,   the   NW-most   of   the Canary   Islands,   is   composed   of   two   large   volcanic   centers.   The   older 2426-m-high   northern   one   is   cut   by   the   massive   steep-walled   Caldera Taburiente,   one   of   several   massive   collapse   scarps   produced   by   edifice failure   to   the   SW. The   younger   1949-m-high   Cumbre Vieja,   the   southern volcano,    is    one    of    the    most    active    in    the    Canaries.    The    elongated volcano   dates   back   to   about   125,000   years   ago   and   is   oriented   N-S. Eruptions   during   the   past   7000   years   have   originated   from   the   abundant cinder   cones   and   craters   along   the   axis   of   Cumbre   Vieja,   producing fissure-fed    lava    flows    that    descend    steeply    to    the    sea.    Historical eruptions   at   La   Palma,   recorded   since   the   15th   century,   have   produced   mild   explosive   activity   and lava   flows   that   damaged   populated   areas.   The   southern   tip   of   the   island   is   mantled   by   a   broad   lava field   produced   during   the   1677-1678   eruption.   Lava   flows   also   reached   the   sea   in   1585,   1646, 1712, 1949, and 1971. (Global Volcanism Program)

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La Palma, 26.12. - 6.01. 1988

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