San Miguel

San Miguel has erupted 45 times since 1510 CE, making it one of the most frequently erupting volcanoes in Central America — averaging roughly one eruption every 11 years.

The volcano's extensive southeastern lava flow fields are so large that the Pan-American Highway and a railroad were built across their surfaces.

Approximately 300,000 people live within 20 km of San Miguel's summit, including El Salvador's third-largest city (population ~250,000) located just 11 km away.

Historical flank vent locations have progressively migrated higher on the edifice over five centuries, with 21st-century activity confined entirely to the summit crater.

The December 2013 VEI 3 eruption produced an ash column reaching 9 km into the atmosphere, the most powerful explosion at San Miguel in at least several decades.

San Miguel is known locally as Chaparrastique, a Nahuatl name meaning 'land of fertile fields' — reflecting the agricultural productivity of its volcanic soils.

El Salvador packs 16 Holocene volcanoes into a country of just 21,041 km² — one of the highest volcanic densities on Earth relative to land area.

The 1844–1848 eruption lasted four years, producing lava flows from multiple flank vents that contributed to the extensive lava fields still visible today.

In the 19th century alone, San Miguel erupted at least 14 times — roughly once every seven years.

The broad, deep summit crater complex has been modified by virtually every historical eruption, making it one of the most actively evolving volcanic craters in Central America.

Coffee cultivation on San Miguel's lower slopes has been a major economic activity since the 19th century, thriving on the rich volcanic soils but vulnerable to ashfall during eruptions.

San Miguel's VEI has never exceeded 3 in the historical record, but its eruption frequency and proximity to a major city make it a persistent and serious hazard.