Volcan de Fuego:
Tourists on Guatemala’s Volcan de Fuego were caught off guard when the volcano erupted recently, and burning rocks began to rain down, forcing them to scramble down the slopes.
- Volcan de Fuego, which translates to “Volcano of Fire” in Spanish, is an active volcano located in Guatemala.
- It is a relatively young basaltic stratovolcano.
- It is one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala’s former capital, Antigua.
- It forms part of the Central American Volcanic Arc, a chain of volcanoes stretching from Guatemala to Panama.
- Guatemala lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
- It lies on the boundary between the Cocos Plate and the Caribbean Plate.
- Fuego has what scientists call an “open-vent system.”
- This means the volcano keeps a clear pathway for gas and magma to escape.
- Because of this open vent, it releases pressure through smaller, more frequent eruptions.
- The Fuego is known for its vulcanian activity, occasionally accompanied by pyroclastic flows.
- It is one of the most active volcanoes in Central America.
