Tajumulco
Stratovolcano in Guatemala
Key Facts
Elevation
4,203 m (13,789 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
15.043°, -91.903°
Region
Central America Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Dacite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Tajumulco is Guatemala's highest peak and the highest volcano in Central America. Two summits, one with a 50-70 m wide crater, lie along a NW-SE line. A lava flow from the ~4200-m-high NW summit traveled down a deep valley on the NW flank.
The andesitic-dacitic volcano was constructed over the NW end of a large arcuate SW-facing escarpment of uncertain origin. Tajumulco has had several unconfirmed reports of historical eruptions. Sapper (1917) considered it to have erupted during historical time, but without accurate dates.
The volcano was reported to eject many rocks, destroying houses on 24 October 1765, but this may have been a rock avalanche. Juarros reported some eruptions before 1808, and there are unlikely reports of eruptions in 1821 (or 1822), 1863, and 1893 (Incer 1988, unpublished manuscript).
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 342020
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Tajumulco is seen here from the NNW. It rises above deeply eroded valleys within plutonic and Tertiary volcanic rocks. Prior to this 1986 photo there had been several unconfirmed reports of eruptions.
Photo by Bill Rose, 1986 (Michigan Technological University).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.