Pacaya volcano
Complex volcano 2552 m (8,373 ft)
Guatemala, 14.38°N / -90.6°W
Current status: erupting (4 out of 5)
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Guatemala, 14.38°N / -90.6°W
Current status: erupting (4 out of 5)
Pacaya webcams / live data | Reports
Pacaya volcano books | Tours
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Last update: 14 Oct 2018
Typical eruption style: Mildly explosive and effusive (Strombolian activity, lava fountaining, lava flows from the summit crater). Near continuously active the least during the past centuries.
Pacaya volcano eruptions: 1360, 1565, 1623(?), 1651, 1655, 1664, 1668, 1671, 1674, 1677(?), 1678, 1690, 1693, 1699, 1717(?), 1760(?), 1775, 1805, 1830(?), 1846, 1885, 1961, 1965, 1970, 2972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980 - May 1998 (intense period of summit activity), 1999-2003, 2004-2010, 2012, 2013, 2014
Typical eruption style: Mildly explosive and effusive (Strombolian activity, lava fountaining, lava flows from the summit crater). Near continuously active the least during the past centuries.
Pacaya volcano eruptions: 1360, 1565, 1623(?), 1651, 1655, 1664, 1668, 1671, 1674, 1677(?), 1678, 1690, 1693, 1699, 1717(?), 1760(?), 1775, 1805, 1830(?), 1846, 1885, 1961, 1965, 1970, 2972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980 - May 1998 (intense period of summit activity), 1999-2003, 2004-2010, 2012, 2013, 2014
| Time | Mag. / Depth | Distance | Location |
Background:
Pacaya is a complex basaltic volcano constructed just outside the southern topographic rim of the 14 x 16 km Pleistocene Amatitlán caldera. A cluster of dacitic lava domes occupies the southern caldera floor. The post-caldera Pacaya massif includes the Cerro Grande lava dome and a younger volcano to the SW. Collapse of Pacaya volcano about 1100 years ago produced a debris-avalanche deposit that extends 25 km onto the Pacific coastal plain and left an arcuate somma rim inside which the modern Pacaya volcano (MacKenney cone) grew. A subsidiary crater, Cerro Chino, was constructed on the NW somma rim and was last active in the 19th century.During the past several decades, activity at Pacaya has consisted of frequent strombolian eruptions with intermittent lava flow extrusion that has partially filled in the caldera moat and armored the flanks of MacKenney cone, punctuated by occasional larger explosive eruptions that partially destroy the summit of the cone.
Source: GVP
Pacaya Photos:
 The interior of the cooling lava flow is still glowing hot. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) |
 Zoom onto the lava flow at Pacaya volcano (Guatemala) in 2010 (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) |  The lava flow emerging from its tube. Caused by friction and the sudden contact with cold air, successive segments of crust form at the exit, resulting in a progressive d... |
 Lava flow at night (Pacaya) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) |  Fire (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) |
 Escaping hot gasses from the hot interior of the flow react with the lava and leave white deposits. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) |
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