Coatepeque Caldera
Caldera in El Salvador
Key Facts
Elevation
746 m (2,448 ft)
Type
Caldera
Location
13.870°, -89.550°
Region
Central America Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Rhyolite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Coatepeque is a 6. 5 x 11. 5 km collapse caldera ~50 km W of San Salvador that is largely occupied by a lake with hot springs near the margins.
The height of the caldera rim increases on its W side, where it intersects the E flank of Santa Ana. The caldera was formed during a series of major rhyolitic explosive eruptions between ~72,000 and 51,000 years ago. Post-caldera eruptions included the formation of basaltic cinder cones and lava flows near the western margin of the caldera and the extrusion of rhyodacitic lava domes along a NE-SW line near the caldera lake margins.
The highest dome forms Isla de Cabra, or Cerro Grande. The age of the domes is not known precisely, but the youngest dome, Cerro Pacho, was estimated to have formed less than 10,000 years ago. No verified eruptions have been recorded.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows and surges
- Large explosive eruptions (VEI 4+)
- Ash fall and tephra deposits
- Lahars and debris flows
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: 343041
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The 7 x 10 km Coatepeque caldera is seen here from the Santa Ana summit. The caldera formed during a series of major explosive eruptions between about 70,000 and 57,000 years ago. Post-caldera eruptions included the formation of basaltic scoria cones and lava flows near the western margin of the caldera and the extrusion of lava domes, including Cerro Grande, the island in the W side of the caldera lake.
Photo by Lee Siebert, 2002 (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.