About Santiago, Cerro
Santiago, Cerro is a volcanic field rising to 1,192 meters (3,911 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
Santiago, Cerro is located in Guatemala, within the Central America Volcanic Arc of the broader Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. Situated at 14.33° N, 89.87° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,192 meters above sea level, Santiago, 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
Santiago, 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 Guatemala near Santiago, 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
A cluster of cinder cones and low shield volcanoes surrounds the city of Jutiapa in SE Guatemala. The most prominent is Cerro Santiago, one of two coalescing cinder cones capping a shield SE of the city. Youthful flows from the two Los Cerritos cones NE of Jutiapa cross the Interamerican Highway. Volcán Culma forms a steep-sided basaltic lava mound immediately E of the city. To the W lies Cerro Gordo (referred to as Amayo by Williams et al., 1964), a craterless cinder cone surrounded by basaltic lava flows. It is one of several cinder cones to have produced lava flows that cover the area between Jutiapa and Tertiary volcanic hills to the S.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Santiago, Cerro.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Santiago, Cerro
Is Santiago, Cerro an active volcano?+
Santiago, 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 Santiago, Cerro?+
Santiago, Cerro has a summit elevation of 1,192 meters (3,911 feet) above sea level. At 1,192 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Santiago, Cerro?+
Santiago, 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 Santiago, Cerro located?+
Santiago, Cerro 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 14.330° latitude, -89.870° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Santiago, Cerro?+
Santiago, Cerro 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.
