Chingo
Stratovolcano · 1,775m · Guatemala-El Salvador
About Chingo
Chingo is a stratovolcano rising to 1,775 meters (5,824 feet) in Guatemala-El Salvador's Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Chingo is located in Guatemala-El Salvador, within the Central America Volcanic Arc of the broader Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. Situated at 14.12° N, 89.73° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,775 meters above sea level, Chingo is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. The volcanic landform is characterized as a composite, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Chingo sits in a subduction zone, where one tectonic plate dives beneath another, creating intense heat and pressure that generates magma. Subduction zones are responsible for many of the world's most explosive volcanoes and deadliest eruptions. For communities in Guatemala-El Salvador near Chingo, this tectonic setting means the volcano is capable of producing powerful explosive eruptions, pyroclastic flows, and lahars that can threaten populated areas within tens of kilometers of the summit. The dominant rock type is andesite / basaltic andesite, a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that forms from rapidly cooling, low-viscosity lava. Basaltic eruptions tend to be less explosive and produce fluid lava flows that can travel long distances. While less immediately dangerous than explosive eruptions, basaltic lava flows can destroy structures and infrastructure in their path, and volcanic gases released during these eruptions can affect air quality over a wide area.
GVP Reference Summary
Volcán Chingo is a symmetrical stratovolcano that straddles the Guatemala/El Salvador border. A shallow, oval-shaped summit crater is breached on the W side. Other small stratovolcanoes and cinder cones are located on both sides of the volcano along a major N-S-trending fault. Youthful cones, such as Cerro de Olla, lie across the Salvadorian border to the S. To the N in Guatemala, Volcán las Viboras, a cinder cone that caps a basaltic shield volcano, is the most prominent of several fault-controlled cones near Laguna Atescatempo. Flank fissures have fed many youthful lava flows, particularly on the W flank of Chingo and the N flank of Volcán las Viboras.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Chingo.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Chingo
Is Chingo an active volcano?+
Chingo is classified as active based on credible evidence of past eruptions. Although its last known eruption was in prehistoric times, volcanologists consider it capable of erupting again.
How high is Chingo?+
Chingo has a summit elevation of 1,775 meters (5,824 feet) above sea level. At 1,775 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Chingo?+
Chingo is classified as a Stratovolcano. Stratovolcanoes (also called composite volcanoes) are steep, conical volcanoes built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. They are among the most common and dangerous types, known for explosive eruptions.
Where is Chingo located?+
Chingo is located in Guatemala-El Salvador, in the Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Central America Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are 14.120° latitude, -89.730° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Chingo?+
Chingo can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Guatemala-El Salvador may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
