About Taburete
Taburete is a stratovolcano rising to 1,172 meters (3,845 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
Taburete is located in El Salvador, within the Central America Volcanic Arc of the broader Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. Situated at 13.44° N, 88.53° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,172 meters above sea level, Taburete 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
Taburete 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 Taburete, 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
Taburete volcano rises above the Pacific coastal plain E of the Río Lempa at the SW end of a cluster of volcanoes between San Vincente and San Miguel volcanoes. Basaltic to basaltic andesite, it is elongated in a NW-SE direction and overlaps with Tecapa volcano to the NE. Its summit forms a prominent peak that rises above the southern crater rim. A well-preserved, 150-300 m deep summit crater has a low point on its eastern rim. A fairly recent lava flow descends the S flank (Williams and McBirney, 1955). Loma Pacha cone on the lower SE flank fed a thick lava flow that traveled 1 km SE. The age of the most recent eruption is not precisely known, and Weber and Wiesemann (1978) did not map its Holocene deposits.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Taburete.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Taburete
Is Taburete an active volcano?+
Taburete is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "Evidence Uncertain." No recorded eruptions have been documented. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
How high is Taburete?+
Taburete has a summit elevation of 1,172 meters (3,845 feet) above sea level. At 1,172 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Taburete?+
Taburete 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 Taburete located?+
Taburete 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 13.435° latitude, -88.532° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Taburete?+
Taburete 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.
