Cosiguina
Stratovolcano in Nicaragua
Key Facts
Elevation
872 m (2,861 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
12.980°, -87.570°
Region
Central America Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Cosigüina (also spelled Cosegüina) is a low basaltic-to-andesitic composite volcano that is isolated from other eruptive centers in the Nicaraguan volcanic chain. The stratovolcano forms a large peninsula extending into the Gulf of Fonseca at the western tip of the country. It has a pronounced somma rim on the northern side; a young summit cone rises 300 m above the northern somma rim and buries the rim on other sides.
The younger cone is truncated by a large elliptical prehistorical summit caldera, 2 x 2. 4 km in diameter and 500 m deep, with a lake at its bottom. Lava flows predominate in the caldera walls, although lahar and pyroclastic-flow deposits surround the volcano.
A brief but powerful explosive eruption in 1835 is Nicaragua's largest during historical time. Ash fell as far away as México, Costa Rica, and Jamaica, and pyroclastic flows reached the Gulf of Fonseca.
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 |
| Recent Activity | 167 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 344010
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Cosigüina, seen here from the east, is a low basaltic-to-andesitic composite volcano that forms a large peninsula at the NW tip of Nicaragua along the Gulf of Fonseca. The 872-m-high volcano has a pronounced somma rim, which forms the ridge seen here at the right behind the far crater rim. The younger cone is truncated by a large elliptical prehistorical summit caldera 2 x 2.4 km in diameter and 500 m deep, which is now filled by a lake. It was the source of a major explosive eruption in 1835, Nicaragua's largest during historical time.
Photo by Jaime Incer, 1981.
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.