Cherufe

The Cherufe is a terrifying entity from Mapuche mythology in Chile, depicted as a molten humanoid monster born from volcanic rock and magma. Said to dwell deep within active volcanoes, it’s blamed for eruptions and devastating earthquakes across the region. Legends describe it as craving human sacrifice, with offerings once supposedly thrown into craters to appease its wrath. Some stories suggest fiery meteorites are fragments hurled by Cherufe in fits of rage, linking natural disasters directly to its destructive will. While modern geology explains tectonic activity without supernatural beasts, the Cherufe endures as a vivid cultural metaphor for the unpredictable violence of Chile’s seismic landscape. Its myth blends natural awe and fear, serving as both a cautionary figure and an attempt to personify forces far beyond human control. Even today, it lurks in folk tales that underline humanity’s vulnerability before earth’s primal power.