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Suchitán

Photo of this volcano
  • Guatemala
  • Stratovolcano(es)
  • Unknown - Evidence Credible
  •  
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 14.4°N
  • 89.78°W

  • 2042 m
    6699 ft

  • 342160
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports for Suchitán.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Suchitán.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Suchitán.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 0 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

[ 1469 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1469 - Unknown Evidence from Unknown
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Suchitán.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Suchitán.

Photo Gallery

Suchitán volcano, seen here from the west on the rim of Retana caldera, is the highest of a group of closely spaced small volcanoes including scoria cones in SE Guatemala. The large peak to the left of the summit is Cerro Mataltepe; other scoria cones occur lower on the north flank. One of the more recent lava flows from Suchitán traveled through a low notch in the eastern caldera rim. The caldera once contained a lake, but now is used for agricultural land.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1993 (Smithsonian Institution).
The floor of the 5-km-wide Retana caldera between Suchitán and Tahual volcanoes is now used for farmland. The caldera walls range up to 250 m in height, with a low notch on the northern rim (left).

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1993 (Smithsonian Institution).
Retana caldera, between Suchitán and Tahual volcanoes, was once filled by Laguna Retana. The lake periodically became dry and was refilled in the 19th and 20th centuries and has now been drained to access the rich soils on the lake floor. A canal drains the lake through a notch on its northern rim (far right). The caldera is seen here from its eastern rim, on the flank of Suchitán. Volcán Tahual is the forested volcano just behind the caldera wall and to the right.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1993 (Smithsonian Institution).
This view from the Apaneca Range shows the CH-A well and drill rig of the Ahuachapán geothermal field in the foreground. The peak on the left horizon across the lowlands of El Salvador's interior valley is Volcán Chingo, along the El Salvador/Guatemala border. The flatter peak to the far right is Volcán Suchitán in Guatemala.

Photo by Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctricia del Río Lempa (CEL), 1992.
The irregular summit ridge of Volcán Suchitán is seen here from the SSW, west of the city of Asunción Mita. The edifice is extensively eroded, and large gullies descent its slopes. Two lava flows of estimated Holocene age were erupted from vents on the N and NW flanks.

Photo by Giuseppina Kysar, 1999 (Smithsonian Institution).
The northern wall of Coatepeque caldera rises about 250 m above the surface of Lago de Coatepeque, whose shores are lined with residences and small hotels. The peak beyond the caldera to the left is Volcán Chingo along the El Salvador/Guatemala border. The broader peak to the far right is Volcán Suchitán, one of the largest volcanoes in SE Guatemala.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 2002 (Smithsonian Institution).
GVP Map Holdings

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Suchitán in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites