About Jumaytepeque
Jumaytepeque is a stratovolcano rising to 1,802 meters (5,912 feet) in Guatemala'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
Jumaytepeque is located in Guatemala, within the Central America Volcanic Arc of the broader Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. Situated at 14.34° N, 90.27° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,802 meters above sea level, Jumaytepeque 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
Jumaytepeque 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 near Jumaytepeque, 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
Jumaytepeque is a small basaltic stratovolcano located NNE of the city of Cuilapa, north of the major NW-SE-trending Jalpatagua fault that cuts diagonally across SE Guatemala. The volcano was constructed near the SE rim of the large Miocene Santa Rosa de Lima caldera. It is not overlain by a ca. 23,000-year-old tephra unit from nearby Ayarza caldera, and its erosionally unmodified form suggests that Holocene activity is possible (Reynolds 2007, pers. comm.). Two older cinder cones to the north are covered with Ayarza tephra.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Jumaytepeque.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Jumaytepeque
Is Jumaytepeque an active volcano?+
Jumaytepeque 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 Jumaytepeque?+
Jumaytepeque has a summit elevation of 1,802 meters (5,912 feet) above sea level. At 1,802 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Jumaytepeque?+
Jumaytepeque 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 Jumaytepeque located?+
Jumaytepeque is located in Guatemala, in the Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Central America Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are 14.340° latitude, -90.271° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Jumaytepeque?+
Jumaytepeque can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Guatemala may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
