What kind of volcano is Santa Ana (Ilamatepec)?

Santa Ana (Ilamatepec) is classified as a Stratovolcano in El Salvador. Its tectonic setting is Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km).

How is seismicity near Santa Ana (Ilamatepec) monitored here?

Earthquakes within 50 km of the crater are aggregated from 18 seismic networks and checked against a swarm rule that compares the current rate with this volcano's own 30-day background. Ash advisories come from the VAAC centres that are connected.

El SalvadorGuatemala: Motagua Fault and Pacific Coast

Broad summit of Santa Ana (Ilamatepec) volcano in western El Salvador

Photo:Mike Carrvia Smithsonian GVP

Volcano Dossier•GVP #343020

13.85°N, 89.63°W

Erupted since 2000

El Salvador→

Volcano Santa Ana (Ilamatepec)

El Salvador's highest volcano, a broad stratovolcano in the west of the country beside Lake Coatepeque and the young cone of Izalco. Its summit crater holds a small acidic, turquoise lake that steams constantly. A sudden explosion in October 2005 hurled rocks and ash over the slopes, killed two people and forced thousands to evacuate; today it is a popular climb in Los Volcanes National Park.

Last eruption

2005

Erupted since 2000

Summit

2.4 km

Stratovolcano · Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Activity

Normal Baseline

0 events (1.0x rate)

Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map

Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.

Recent seismicity within 50 km

0 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.

Time	Magnitude	Epicenter / Place	Distance	Depth
4d ago	M2.5	26 km S of Jutiapa (Guatemala)	32 km	7 km
11d ago	M2.7	26 km S of Jutiapa (Guatemala)	32 km	6 km
12d ago	M3.9	60 km W of San Salvador (El Salvador)	12 km	4.7 km
22d ago	M2.8	81 km SE of Guatemala City (Guatemala)	50 km	188 km
26d ago	M3.1	65 km W of San Salvador (El Salvador)	17 km	3.5 km
26d ago	M3.0	64 km W of San Salvador (El Salvador)	16 km	7.5 km
2mo ago	M3.3	Near San Salvador (El Salvador)	48 km	7.5 km
2mo ago	M3.4	26 km SE of Jutiapa (Guatemala)	34 km	5.5 km

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Stratovolcano

Santa Ana (Ilamatepec) is an active Stratovolcano formed in an active Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km). Dominant lithology: Andesite / Basaltic Andesite.

Edifice TypeStratovolcano

Major rockAndesite / Basaltic Andesite

TectonicsSubduction zone

Volcanic ArcCentral America Volcanic Arc

Volcano Dossier

VN #343020

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

CountryEl Salvador

Crater Coordinates13.853°, -89.630°

Summit2.4 km

SubregionCentral America Volcanic Arc

Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#343020)

Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure

All 18 Networks & VAAC →

Seismic ObservatoryGSN / FDSN

Global Seismographic Network & Regional Centers

Official Portal

ICAO Aviation Ash Center

ICAO Volcanic Ash Advisory Network

International Civil Aviation Organization

VAAC Advisory Desk

Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →

Regional Seismic Profile

Guatemala: Motagua Fault and Pacific Coast

Explore live seismic monitoring, historical danger benchmarks, fault slip models and recurrence intervals for Guatemala: Motagua Fault and Pacific Coast.

Open Regional Hub

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols

The most recent eruption of Santa Ana (Ilamatepec) recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2005.

Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile