What kind of volcano is Santa María?

Santa María is classified as a Stratovolcano in Guatemala. Its tectonic setting is Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km).

How is seismicity near Santa María 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.

Santa Maria volcano and the Santiaguito lava dome complex, Guatemala

Photo:Bill Rosevia Smithsonian GVP

Volcano Dossier•GVP #342030

14.76°N, 91.55°W

Erupted since 2000

Volcano Santa María

Son éruption d'octobre 1902, l'une des trois plus importantes du XXe siècle, a éventré le flanc de la montagne et tué au moins 5 000 personnes autour de Quetzaltenango. Depuis 1922, les dômes de lave du Santiaguito grandissent dans cette cicatrice et lâchent encore de petites explosions de cendres plusieurs fois par jour.

Last Eruption

2026

Erupted since 2000

Summit Elevation

3.7 km

Stratovolcan · Dacite

Seismic State

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.

Heure	Magnitude	Épicentre / lieu	Distance	Profondeur
13d il y a	M4.0	GUATEMALA (INET)	29 km	168 km
14d il y a	M4.0	GUATEMALA (INET)	41 km	75 km
16d il y a	M4.6	5 km E of San José El Ídolo, Guatemala	39 km	109.7 km
30d il y a	M2.9	GUATEMALA (INET)	31 km	128 km
43d il y a	M3.0	GUATEMALA (INET)	32 km	5 km
69d il y a	M3.4	GUATEMALA (INET)	50 km	59 km
71d il y a	M4.3	4 km SW of Almolonga, Guatemala	4.6 km	129.3 km

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Stratovolcan

Santa María is an active Stratovolcano formed in an active Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km). Dominant lithology: Dacite.

Edifice TypeStratovolcan

Major RockDacite

Tectonic SettingZone de subduction

Volcanic ArcArc volcanique d'Amérique centrale

Volcanic Dossier

VN #342030

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

PaysGuatemala

Coordonnées du cratère14.757°, -91.552°

Summit Elevation3.7 km

SubregionArc volcanique d'Amérique centrale

Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#342030)

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 →

Questions fréquentes (FAQ)

Protocoles scientifiques, opérationnels et d’urgence vérifiés

The most recent eruption of Santa María recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2026.

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