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Santa Maria is an active stratovolcano located in southwestern Guatemala. The volcano has produced one of the twentieth century’s largest eruptions. For thousand years, Santa Maria’s eruptions have been relatively small but frequent, causing it to build a large cone of approx 1,400m
Location: | Quetzaltenango, Guatemala |
Coordinates: | 14.756985, -91.553462 |
Volcano Type: | Stratovolcano |
Santa Maria’s Location
Santa Maria’s Latest Status
2024: Santa Maria remains highly active, producing regular eruptions with plumes rising to almost 5000 meters.
Santa Maria’s Eruptive History
1902 | First eruption in recorded history. It is believed Santa Maria remained dormant for thousands of years prior. So large was the eruption in 1902 that is created ash fall in San Francisco. |
1970’s | 1973- A large avalanche created an ash plume to 8000m. Strong explosive activity producing large ash columns, ash falls in surrounding communities and pyroclastic flows. |
1980’s | Regular activity (including a lateral blast) producing lava flows |
1990’s | Activity continues. Large ash columns, lava flows and pyroclastic flows. |
2000-2010 | 2000 – Significant lava flow traveling almost 3km. 2002 – Lahars |
2010-2015 | 2014 – Explosive event on 9 May 2014 producing ash plume to 4000m. |
2016 | Explosive event in January producing ash plume to 5000m and pyroclastic flows. Significant lava flows. |
2017 | Significant growth of the lava dome |
2018 | Ash and steam eruptions continue. Ongoing degassing. |
2019 | Multiple daily eruptions. Persistent thermal activity. |
2020 | Daily eruptive activity continues, producing pyroclastic flows. Multiple ash advisories. |
2023 | April 2023: Santa Maria continues to erupt from the Santiaguito lava-dome complex. |
2024 | Santa Maria remains highly active, producing regular eruptions with plumes rising to almost 5000 meters. |
Santa Maria Monitoring
For monitoring of Guatemala’s Volcanoes, please refer to INSIVUMEH
Santa Maria Images
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