The volcano is part of the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes. Other volcanoes in this volcanic zone from northwest to southeast include Sara Sara, Coropuna, Ampato, Sabancaya, El Misti, Ubinas, Ticsani, Tutupaca and Yucamane. Ubinas is the most active volcano in Peru, and El Misti, Sabancaya, Ticsani, Tutupaca, Ubinas and Yucamane (as well as Huaynaputina) have been active in historical time while Sara Sara, Coropuna, Ampato, Casiri and Chachani are considered to be dormant volcanoes. Most volcanoes of the Central Volcanic Zone are large composite volcanoes that can remain active over the span of several million years, but there are also conical stratovolcanoes with shorter lifespans.