The volcanoes in El Salvador have been for centuries on our ground, some have had more activity than others. It is estimated that there are around Central magnificent of 23 volcanoes in our country, but only some of them have an ongoing activity which includes the emission of gases and ash. It is also important to mention that they are considered active volcanoes those who have had eruptions in the past 500 years and presents a well-formed crater.
We wanted to present a compilation of the major volcanoes in El Salvador currently known together with the most important of each information.
Santa Ana volcano
The Santa Ana volcano is also known as volcano Ilamatepeq. This volcano is located in the Department of Santa Ana and records of their latest eruptions that occurred in the years 1904, 1920 and the last which was in 2005 have. It is located at an altitude of 2,382 meters above sea level which is also considered as one of the places higher in El Salvador.
The Ilamatepec is located in the cordillera de Apaneca, within a tropical mountain cloud forest, on a mostly coffee-growing region about 65 kilometers west of San Salvador. The main economic activities of the region are agriculture and tourism.
Its last eruption took place on October 1, 2005, it was an explosion of ash and volcanic rocks and a stream of hot water fell from the crater, causing the death of two people and forced the evacuation of the inhabitants of the San Blas area.
Height: 2,382 meters above the level of the Sea (m)
Last eruption: 2005
Location: Santa Ana
Izalco volcano
The volcano of Izalco is considered as the youngest of the volcanoes in El Salvador and one of the youngest in the Americas. Its origin was in the year of 1770, when a hole in the foothills of the Santa Ana volcano began to emanate smoke and ashes. 196 years the volcano permanently erupted, and these eruptions were views to the ocean, reason for which he won the nickname of Lighthouse of the Pacific. Its activity was formation of a cone of 650 metres, with a crater 250 meters in diameter.
The last eruption of the volcano of Izalco happened in the year of 1966, and since then has been a gradual decline in activity and temperature of its gas fumaroles. This latest eruption was quite violent, causing the complete destruction of the top of the volcano making its height to decrease at 200 meters.
Height: 1,965 meters above sea level
Last eruption: 1966
Location: Sonsonate
San Salvador volcano
The volcano of San Salvador is also known as Quezaltepeque volcano. It is located between the municipalities of Quezaltepeque, San Juan Opico, Colon, Nejapa and Nueva San Salvador in the Department of La Libertad. It is located at a distance of 11 km from the city of San Salvador.
The first eruptions of the volcano of San Salvador were at the end of the tertiary period and the beginning of the Quaternary. The last recorded eruption of the volcano of San Salvador was on June 7, 1917; This eruption caused that a lake that had been in the crater of the volcano and in its place was a lift, which is known as El Boquerón its.
Height: 1,867 meters above sea level
Last eruption: 1917
Location: San Salvador
San Miguel volcano
San Miguel volcano is best known as Chaparrastique Volcano (which means “warm the chaparro’s land” or land of the heat), is located in the municipality of San Miguel, specifically to eleven kilometers from the city of San Miguel. It is located in the mountain range of Chinameca. It is the third highest volcano in the country, its central crater is 800 meters in diameter and several holes through which has expelled lava burned. Its volcanic cone is considered as one of the best-trained of Central America.
The Chaparrastique volcano is considered as one of the six volcanoes more assets of El Salvador. In the past 300 years has had more than 26 eruptions. The last eruption of the volcano had been in the year of 1976, however on December 29, 2013 there was an eruption of volcanic ash that did evacuate the inhabitants of nearby victims without reporting.
Height: 2,130 meters above sea level
Last eruption: 2013
Location: San Miguel
San Vicente volcano
The San Vicente volcano is also known as volcano Chinchontepeq, is located between the municipalities of Guadalupe and Tepetitán in the Department of San Vicente; and San Juan Nonualco and Zacatecoluca in the Department of La Paz; 60 km east of San Salvador. This is considered to be the second highest volcano in El Salvador.
The volcano of San Vicente has two lifts: the highest has 2,173 meters above sea level. with a small hole in the middle of what was once a crater; Another elevation it is lower, at 2,083 meters, has cone crater open to the East. On the South side and at the base of the volcano of San Vicente are thermal springs which are commonly known as infiernillos, these Springs emanate strong steam and sulfuric smoke. To the North of the volcano is the Valley of Jiboa, one of the richest culture in El Salvador. Far is not known any eruption of the volcano of San Vicente, it is possible that they have been, but historically there is no record of any, at least in the last 500 years.
Height: 2,173 meters above sea level
Last eruption: not registered
Location: San Vicente
Conchagua volcano
Conchagua Volcano (its name is of Lenca origin and means “Valley Strait”) is located 4.6 km to the southeast of the Conchagua municipality in the Department of La Unión, pose an altitude of 1,243 meters above the sea level. The volcano is currently covered with vegetation.
In the Conchagua volcano is an ecological park from where you can see some islands of the Gulf of Fonseca as Meanguera and Meanguerita Amapala.
Height: 550 m
Last eruption: 1892
Location: Island of the Gulf of Fonseca, La Union
Tecapa volcano
The volcano Tecapa (means “Lagoon of stones”) is 2 km south of the village of joy in Usulutan. The center of the volcano there is a lagoon with turquoise waters since it rests on mantles of sulphur. The part of the crater measures about 900 metres and 350 metres lagoon. This is known as the lagoon of joy and is one of the tourist attractions in el Salvador. The lagoon of Alegría is also known as the Emerald of America.
Tecapa volcano there are fumaroles and hot springs, making it clear that there is a volcanic activity at the site. We have no records of eruptions of this volcano.
Height: 1,592 metres above sea level
Last eruption: not registered
Location: Usulutan
Volcano San Marcelino
Height: 1,480 metres above sea level
Last eruption: 1722
Location: Sonsonate
Ilopango volcano
Height: 438 m
Last eruption: 429
Location: San Salvador
Fascination to understand and learn about the volcanoes in El Salvador.