Authors
Juan Carlos Carracedo, Simon J Day, Hervé Guillou, Francisco J Pérez Torrado
Publication date
1999/12/1
Journal
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
Volume
94
Issue
1-4
Pages
169-190
Publisher
Elsevier
Description
In the past, large morphological escarpments in the Canaries have been generally related to explosive and/or erosive processes. Recent onshore and offshore investigations drastically changed this interpretation, by providing evidence of the importance of giant lateral collapses in the evolution of the islands, especially in their earlier stages of growth. Giant landslide scars and deposits are readily observed both onshore and offshore in the younger, western Canaries, and seem to be a common feature of the development of the entire archipelago. At least one catastrophic collapse is apparent on La Palma: the Cumbre Nueva giant landslide, which occurred about 560 ka ago. This collapse removed some 200 km3 of central-western La Palma, forming a large embayment. Three successive giant landslides and evidence of an aborted attempt at another are seen in the island of El Hierro. The combined volume of …
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Scholar articles
JC Carracedo, SJ Day, H Guillou, FJP Torrado - Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 1999