In this case there is another volcano within the caldera which exploded last July, the biggest eruption there in about 10,000 years. We think this eruption interacted with water and that water could be used to create geothermal energy. Ort said he will be studying the Caviahue caldera from the viewpoint of a volcanologist, examining its characteristics. The Caviahue caldera is about 2 million years old, first erupting about the beginning of the Pleistocene epoch. It is about 10 miles wide.
Calderas go through cycles.
But there is also a practical application. Argentina is a developing country and the energy from this caldera might help light up several provinces. There is a very small geothermal plant now, but there may be considerable more potential. It's a mind-boggling huge system. Ort left for Argentina March 5.