About Singuil, Cerro
Singuil, Cerro is a volcanic field rising to 926 meters (3,038 feet) in 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
Singuil, Cerro is located in El Salvador, within the Central America Volcanic Arc of the broader Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. Situated at 14.05° N, 89.63° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 926 meters above sea level, Singuil, Cerro is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. The volcanic landform is characterized as a cluster, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Singuil, Cerro 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 El Salvador near Singuil, Cerro, 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 basalt / picro-basalt, 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
The most prominent feature of a volcanic field in the interior valley of El Salvador near the Guatemalan border SE of Volcán Chingo is Cerro Singüil. This scoria cone, also known as El Cerron, has a well-preserved summit crater and is part of a group of cinder cones and explosion craters mapped as Holocene in age by Weber and Wiesemann (1978). A young basaltic lava flow extends to the NNE down the valley of the Quebada La Presa, the headwaters of the Río Guajoyo. The volcanic field includes a line of three NNE-trending explosion craters N of the city of Chalchuapa, the highest of which is Cerro Tablas.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Singuil, Cerro.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Singuil, Cerro
Is Singuil, Cerro an active volcano?+
Singuil, Cerro 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 Singuil, Cerro?+
Singuil, Cerro has a summit elevation of 926 meters (3,038 feet) above sea level. At 926 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Singuil, Cerro?+
Singuil, Cerro is classified as a Volcanic field. Volcanic fields consist of clusters of small volcanic vents and cinder cones spread across a region. Rather than a single central vent, eruptions can occur at many points across the field.
Where is Singuil, Cerro located?+
Singuil, Cerro is located in El Salvador, in the Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Central America Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are 14.054° latitude, -89.631° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Singuil, Cerro?+
Singuil, Cerro can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. El Salvador may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
