January Reconnaissance Trip

May/June Expedition

Press Release

    ISLA SAN LUIS
 

GEOGRAPHIC AND CULTURAL SETTING      Isla San Luis: A small island off the coast of Baja California, Isla San Luis lies near a settlement of several hundred people live along this coastal area, and the island lies beneath flight paths of commercial jet aircraft. Of particular interest is a vast pumice cliff on the south side of the island, and venting gases on the north side.  A plume from a future eruption could seriously affect livelihood along the peninsula and air travel over the area. The young tephra deposits and current activity suggest that future explosive eruptions are possible.     DESCRIPTION OF REGION - GEOLOGIC SETTING        Isla San Luis is north of Las Tres Virgenes, approximately 300 km south of the international border, and just north of the San Luis Gonzaga Bay.  Eruptions on the island may have occurred in the last 500 years and discharges of sulfurous gas indicate that the island-volcano remains active.      View of Isla San Luis from Punto Bufeo (Photograph by Brian Hausback)