About Tigre, Isla del
Tigre, Isla del is a stratovolcano rising to 774 meters (2,539 feet) in Honduras'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, Isla del is located in Honduras, within the Central America Volcanic Arc of the broader Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. Situated at 13.27° N, 87.64° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 774 meters above sea level, Tigre, Isla del 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, Isla del 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 Honduras near Tigre, Isla del, 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
Isla del Tigre is a small, 5-km-wide island located across a narrow 2-km-wide strait S of Isla Zacate Grande in the Gulf of Fonseca. The conical basaltic stratovolcano is the southernmost volcano of Honduras. It is less dissected than neighboring Zacate Grande on the mainland to the N, and is of probable Holocene age (Carr 1992, pers. comm.). A single satellitic cone, El Vigía, overlooks the village of Amapala on the NW flank.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Tigre, Isla del.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Tigre, Isla del
Is Tigre, Isla del an active volcano?+
Tigre, Isla del 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, Isla del?+
Tigre, Isla del has a summit elevation of 774 meters (2,539 feet) above sea level. At 774 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Tigre, Isla del?+
Tigre, Isla del 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, Isla del located?+
Tigre, Isla del is located in Honduras, in the Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Central America Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are 13.274° latitude, -87.639° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Tigre, Isla del?+
Tigre, Isla del can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Honduras may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
