Momotombo volcano towers above the floor of the Nicaraguan depression. Following its birth about 4500 years ago, a catastrophic eruption of Old Momotombo volcano about 2700-2800 years ago produced large amounts of tephra and pyroclastic flows. As a result of this eruption a 1.5 x 1.1 km wide crater was formed at the summit. Subsequent eruptions beginning about 800-900 years ago created the Young Momotombo volcano, which filled much of this crater and forms the present summit.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1998 (Smithsonian Institution).

This image is made available under the Public Domain Dedication CC0 license, but proper attribution is appreciated.

Momotombo