Pacaya volcano
Updated: Oct 6, 2022 17:45 GMT -
Complex volcano 2552 m (8,373 ft)
Guatemala, 14.38°N / -90.6°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Guatemala, 14.38°N / -90.6°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 17 Apr 2022 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)
Pacaya volcano near Guatemala City is one of Guatemala's most active volcanoes, and its frequent eruptions are often visible from Guatemala City. Typical activity in recent years includes strombolian activity, lava flow emission and intermittend violent phases of lava fountaining.
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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, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980 - May 1998 (intense period of summit activity), 1999-2003, 2004-2010, 2012, 2013, 2014
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Time | Mag. / Depth | Distance/Location | ||
| Monday, October 3, 2022 GMT (2 quakes) | ||||
| Oct 3, 2022 12:06 pm (GMT -6) (Oct 3, 2022 18:06 GMT) | 3.9 16 km | 307 km (191 mi) North Pacific Ocean, 157 km southwest of Tapachula de Cordova y Ordoñez, Mexico | ||
| Oct 3, 2022 12:06 pm (GMT -6) (Oct 3, 2022 18:06 GMT) | 3.9 16 km | 307 km (191 mi) North Pacific Ocean, 157 km southwest of Tapachula de Cordova y Ordoñez, Mexico | ||
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
View onto the fast flowing lava (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) |
Lava flow at Pacaya volcano (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) |
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) |
See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS
Pacaya volcano tours
Guatemala
Volcanoes in the land of the Maya
15-day study trip and expedition to Guatemala's volcanoes
15 days / 14 nights - Moderate
Price $ 3900
Price $ 3900
no scheduled dates at present
Guatemala
Guatemala Volcano Special
8-day volcano tour to Pacaya and Fuego, Guatemala
8 days / 7 nights - Moderate
Price $ 2300
Price $ 2300
29 Oct - 5 Nov 2022
