Toliman
Stratovolcano(es) in Guatemala
Key Facts
Elevation
3,158 m (10,361 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano(es)
Location
14.612°, -91.189°
Region
Central America Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Volcán Tolimán is a large andesitic stratovolcano that rises above the S shore of Lake Atitlán. It was constructed within the Pleistocene Atitlán III caldera, near its inferred southern margin. A shallow elliptical crater truncates the summit, and a subsidiary peak to the SSW also has a shallow crater.
In contrast to the tephra-covered surface of Volcán Atitlán immediately to the S, the surface is covered by thick lava flows. Many of the flows were erupted from vents on the flanks and form a highly irregular shoreline on the S side of Lake Atitlán. A lava flow that entered Lake Atitlán from the Cerro de Oro lava dome on the N flank was considered by Newhall et al.
(1987) to be less than a few thousand years old based on the thickness of sediment accumulated on the sublacustral part of the flow.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
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: 342070
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Volcán Tolimán (center) towers above the south shore of scenic Lake Atitlán. Tolimán and the adjacent Atitlán (upper left) were constructed within the Pleistocene Atitlán III caldera, near its inferred southern margin. In contrast to the tephra-covered surface of Volcán Atitlán, the surface of Tolimán is dominated by thick lava flows. The recent eruptions of Tolimán were primarily effusive eruptions from flank vents. The resulting lava flows extend into the lake and produce the irregular shoreline.
Photo by Bill Rose, 1972 (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.