Tacaná

Tacaná is the second-highest peak in Central America at 4,064 m (13,333 ft), surpassed only by neighboring Tajumulco (4,220 m) just 20 km to the southeast.

The international border between Mexico and Guatemala runs directly through or very near Tacaná's summit, making it one of the world's few volcanoes shared between two nations.

Tacaná's most powerful known eruption (~70 CE, VEI 4) produced pyroclastic flows — a capability that far exceeds its mild historical phreatic activity, which has been limited to VEI 1.

Approximately 300,000 people live within 30 km of the summit, including residents of Tapachula, Mexico's major border city with Guatemala.

The Soconusco region at Tacaná's base produces some of Mexico's finest coffee, cultivated on volcanic soils at elevations of 900-1,500 m.

Tacaná marks the precise geological transition between the Central American volcanic arc and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt — two distinct volcanic systems driven by the same subducting Cocos Plate.

Three large calderas on the volcano's upper flanks, all breached to the south, record episodes of massive edifice collapse.

Cross-border volcanic hazard coordination between Mexico (CENAPRED) and Guatemala (INSIVUMEH) is required for Tacaná, adding complexity to emergency management.

The volcano's name likely derives from the Mam Maya language, with a meaning related to 'fire' or 'high place.'

Lahars from Tacaná could travel down deeply incised river valleys and reach populated lowland areas tens of kilometers from the summit.