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

L'eruzione dell'ottobre 1902, una delle tre più grandi del XX secolo, squarciò il fianco della montagna e uccise almeno 5.000 persone attorno a Quetzaltenango. Dal 1922 le cupole di lava del Santiaguito crescono dentro quella cicatrice e ancora oggi emettono piccole esplosioni di cenere molte volte al giorno.

Last Eruption

2026

Erupted since 2000

Summit Elevation

3.7 km

Stratovulcano · 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.

Ora	Magnitudo	Epicentro / Località	Distanza	Profondità
13d fa	M4.0	GUATEMALA (INET)	29 km	168 km
14d fa	M4.0	GUATEMALA (INET)	41 km	75 km
16d fa	M4.6	5 km E of San José El Ídolo, Guatemala	39 km	109.7 km
30d fa	M2.9	GUATEMALA (INET)	31 km	128 km
43d fa	M3.0	GUATEMALA (INET)	32 km	5 km
69d fa	M3.4	GUATEMALA (INET)	50 km	59 km
71d fa	M4.3	4 km SW of Almolonga, Guatemala	4.6 km	129.3 km

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Stratovulcano

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

Edifice TypeStratovulcano

Major RockDacite

Tectonic SettingZona di subduzione

Volcanic ArcArco vulcanico Central America

Volcanic Dossier

VN #342030

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

PaeseGuatemala

Coordinate del cratere14.757°, -91.552°

Summit Elevation3.7 km

SubregionArco vulcanico Central America

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 →

Domande frequenti (FAQ)

Protocolli scientifici, operativi e di emergenza verificati

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