Structural and Geological Elements of Teide Volcanic Complex: Rift Zones and Gravitational Collapses

Abstract

Initially recognised in the Hawaiian Islands, volcanic rift zones and associated giant landslides have been extensively studied in the Canaries, where several of their more significant structural and genetic elements have been established. Almost 3,000 km of water tunnels (galerías) that exist in the western Canaries provide a unique possibility to access the deep structure of the island edifices. Recent work shows that rift zones to control the construction of the islands, possibly from the initial stages of island development, form the main relief features (shape and topography), and concentrate eruptive activity, making them crucial elements in defining the distribution of volcanic hazards on ocean islands.