About Granada
Granada is a fissure vent(s) rising to 250 meters (820 feet) in Nicaragua'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
Granada is located in Nicaragua, within the Central America Volcanic Arc of the broader Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. Situated at 11.90° N, 85.98° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. At just 250 meters above sea level, Granada is a relatively low-elevation volcanic feature. Despite its modest height, it remains an active geological formation with the same underlying magmatic processes as its taller counterparts. 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
Granada 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 Nicaragua near Granada, 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
The Granada lineament, also known as the La Joya alignment, is an arcuate fissure extending from about 2 km SE of the Apoyo caldera rim around to N of the city of Granada. Small cinder cones are present about 8 km NNW from the Mombacho summit, and the N-S oriented La Joya maar explosion crater chain stretches over 1 km just SW of Granada city. This feature is structurally distinct from the Apoyo caldera and is analogous to the Nejapa-Miraflores alignment north of Masaya volcano. The lineament, characterized by the eruption of basaltic lavas and tephras compositionally similar to mid-ocean ridge basalts, originated about 12,000 years ago, and the latest eruptions may have occurred as recently as about 2,000 years ago.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Granada.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Granada
Is Granada an active volcano?+
Granada 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 Granada?+
Granada has a summit elevation of 250 meters (820 feet) above sea level. At 250 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Granada?+
Granada is classified as a Fissure vent(s). Fissure vent(s) volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Granada located?+
Granada is located in Nicaragua, in the Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Central America Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are 11.900° latitude, -85.979° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Granada?+
Granada can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Nicaragua may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
