🌋VolcanoAtlas

Flores

Volcanic field in Guatemala

Key Facts

Elevation

1,600 m (5,249 ft)

Type

Volcanic field

Location

14.308°, -89.992°

Region

Central America Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Volcán de Flores is one of the largest of a cluster of small stratovolcanoes located in SE Guatemala behind the volcanic front. Also known as Volcán Amayo, it lies ~10 km W of the city of Jutiapa, at the SW end of the SE Guatemala volcanic platform. The summit rises ~600 m above a basement of Cretaceous and Tertiary sedimentary rocks and contains a shallow crater breached on its eastern side.

Satellitic cones occur at the southern and eastern base of the dominantly basaltic volcano, and youthful lava flows occur at the NE base, near El Aguacite.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    Risk Level

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskModerate
    Aviation RiskSignificant

    Geological Composition & Structure

    Rock Types

    Primary
    Basalt / Picro-Basalt
    Silica Content
    Low (45-52% SiO₂)

    Tectonic Setting

    Subduction zone
    Formed by oceanic plate subduction, typically producing explosive eruptions due to water-rich magmas.

    Age & Formation

    Epoch
    Holocene
    Evidence
    Evidence Credible

    Eruption Statistics & Analysis

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
    Recent ActivityUnknownHistoricalHistorically active

    Monitoring & Alert Status

    Monitoring Networks

    Global Volcanism Program
    International eruption database

    Current Status

    Normal
    No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

    Nearby Volcanoes in Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions

    Regional Volcanic Activity
    The Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

    Quick Info

    • Smithsonian ID: 342140
    • Evidence: Evidence Credible
    • Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    Volcán de Flores, seen here from the SSW, is one of the largest of a cluster of small volcanoes located behind the main volcanic front in SE Guatemala. The summit rises up to 600 m above a basement of Cretaceous and Tertiary sedimentary rocks and contains a smaller summit cone with a shallow crater that opens to the east. An alignment of scoria cones trends across the flanks.

    Photo by Francesco Frugioni, 1999 (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisca e Vulcanologia, Rome).

    Basic Information

    This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.