Tecapa
Stratovolcano in El Salvador
Key Facts
Elevation
1,593 m (5,226 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
13.494°, -88.502°
Region
Central America Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Tecapa is a complex basaltic-to-andesitic stratovolcano at the NW end of a cluster of volcanoes E of the Río Lempa between San Vicente and San Miguel volcanoes. The Berlín caldera, whose rim is visible on the W side of the complex, was formed during the eruption of the Blanca-Rosa dacitic pumice in the late Pleistocene. Following caldera formation, the cones of Cerro Las Palmas, Cerro Pelón, Tecapa-Laguna de Alegria, and Cerro Alegria were constructed along a WSW-ENE line.
The crater of Tecapa-Laguna de Alegria contains a deep notch on the eastern rim and is filled by Laguna de Alegria crater lake. The volcanic complex currently displays fumarolic activity, and a producing geothermal plant is located at the Berlín geothermal field.
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: 343080
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Tecapa is at the NW end of a cluster of volcanoes in eastern El Salvador between San Vicente and San Miguel, seen here from the west. The peaks on the horizon to the far left lie behind the Berlín caldera. Geothermal activity continues within the Tecapa volcanic complex and a producing geothermal plant is located at the Berlín geothermal field.
Photo by Lee Siebert, 1999 (Smithsonian Institution).
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.