About Tigre, El
Tigre, El is a stratovolcano rising to 1,640 meters (5,381 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
Tigre, El is located in El Salvador, within the Central America Volcanic Arc of the broader Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. Situated at 13.47° N, 88.43° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,640 meters above sea level, Tigre, El 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
Tigre, El 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 Tigre, El, 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
Cerro el Tigre is the highest, NE-most, and oldest of the cluster of coalescing basaltic to basaltic andesite Quaternary volcanoes between the Río Lempa and San Miguel volcano. Its summit crater has been destroyed by erosion, and its flanks are deeply dissected. Two large NNW-trending valleys, parallel to other regional fissures, cross the volcano, which lies about 7 km SE of Tecapa volcano and a similar distance NE of Usulután volcano. Although the volcano itself is Pleistocene in age, two young cones on its flanks were mapped as Holocene by Weber and Wiesemann (1978). Cerro Oromontique and Cerro la Manita were erupted on the W and S flanks, respectively, along a NW-SE-trending fissure extending towards Tecapa.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Tigre, El.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Tigre, El
Is Tigre, El an active volcano?+
Tigre, El 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 Tigre, El?+
Tigre, El has a summit elevation of 1,640 meters (5,381 feet) above sea level. At 1,640 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Tigre, El?+
Tigre, El 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 Tigre, El located?+
Tigre, El 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 13.470° latitude, -88.430° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Tigre, El?+
Tigre, El 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.
