Atitlan
Stratovolcano(es) in Guatemala
Key Facts
Elevation
3,535 m (11,598 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano(es)
Location
14.583°, -91.186°
Region
Central America Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Volcán Atitlán is one of several conical stratovolcanoes in the Guatemalan highlands. Along with Tolimán to the north, it forms a dramatic backdrop to Lake Atitlán. The summit directly overlies the inferred margin of the Pleistocene Atitlán III caldera and is the highest of three large post-caldera stratovolcanoes constructed near the southern caldera rim.
The volcano consequently post-dates the eruption of the voluminous, roughly 85,000-year-old rhyolitic Los Chocoyos tephra associated with formation of the Atitlán III caldera. The andesitic Volcán Atitlán is younger than Tolimán 3 km away on the N flank, although their earlier activity overlapped. In contrast to Tolimán, Atitlán displays a thick pyroclastic cover.
The northern side of the volcano is wooded to near the summit, whereas the upper 1,000 m of the southern slopes are unvegetated. Predominantly explosive eruptions have been recorded since the 15th century.
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 |
| Recent Activity | 173 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 342060
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Volcán Atitlán directly overlies the inferred margin of the Pleistocene Atitlán III caldera, whose northern rim lies across Lake Atitlán. The Atitlán stratovolcano is adjacent to Tolimán to its north (seen just to the right of Atitlán's summit). The historically active Atitlán is younger than Tolimán, although their earlier activity overlapped. Atitlán’s surface is composed of tephra, reflecting its predominantly explosive eruptions that have been recorded since the 15th century.
Photo by Bill Rose, 1980 (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.