Pacaya volcano
Updated: Jul 6, 2022 07:51 GMT - Refresh
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
Lastest nearby earthquakes:
Time | Mag. / Depth | Distance/Location | ||
Sunday, July 3, 2022 GMT (1 quake) | ||||
Jul 3, 2022 9:01 am (GMT -6) (Jul 3, 2022 15:01 GMT) | 4.1 5 km | 337 km (209 mi) Mexico: 153 Km Al Suroeste De Mapastepec, México | ||
Thursday, June 30, 2022 GMT (1 quake) | ||||
Jun 30, 2022 12:32 pm (GMT -6) (Jun 30, 2022 18:32 GMT) | 3.9 16 km | 408 km (254 mi) Mexico: 203 Km Al SUROESTE De PIJIJIAPAN, CHIS | ||
Tuesday, June 28, 2022 GMT (1 quake) | ||||
Jun 28, 2022 2:49 pm (GMT -6) (Jun 28, 2022 20:49 GMT) | 4.5 25 km | 249 km (155 mi) Mexico: 48 Km Al Suroeste De El Gancho México | ||
Saturday, June 25, 2022 GMT (2 quakes) | ||||
Jun 25, 2022 12:41 am (GMT -6) (Jun 25, 2022 06:41 GMT) | 4.0 16 km | 234 km (145 mi) Mexico: 74 Km Al SUROESTE De CD HIDALGO, CHIS | ||
Jun 24, 2022 9:05 pm (GMT -6) (Jun 25, 2022 03:05 GMT) | 4.0 18 km | 368 km (229 mi) Mexico: 173 Km Al SUROESTE De MAPASTEPEC, CHIS |
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

Pacaya volcano with its lava flows seen from Acatenango volcano. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Lava flow at Pacaya volcano (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Lava flow at night (Pacaya) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Night-time lava flow at Pacaya volcano (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Pacaya volcano tours:
Volcanoes in the land of the Maya (15-day study trip and expedition to Guatemala's volcanoes)Guatemala Volcano Special (8-day volcano tour to Pacaya and Fuego, Guatemala)

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS