El Salvador is known as the “Land of Volcanoes,” an identity rooted in its complex and active volcanic chain. The exact number of volcanoes depends on how they are classified. Generally, the country is home to over 20 major volcanic features that have been active in the last 10,000 years. This presence of numerous structures defines the nation’s landscape and geological character.
Defining the Volcanic Count
The exact number of volcanoes varies because counting requires a clear definition of what constitutes a single volcano. Scientific organizations, such as the Global Volcanism Program, list 17 volcanoes showing evidence of activity within the Holocene epoch (the last 10,000 years). These 17 are typically the major stratovolcanoes and large calderas.
The national count is much higher when including minor cones, geothermal fields, and volcanic clusters. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has identified 36 volcanoes as active out of approximately 242 existing volcanic features across the country. This larger inventory accounts for every significant vent, dome, and cone.
Tectonic Setting and Formation
El Salvador’s intense volcanism is a direct consequence of its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a major belt of seismic and volcanic activity. The mechanism for this formation is the subduction of the denser Cocos Plate beneath the lighter Caribbean Plate along the Middle America Trench.
As the Cocos Plate descends, heat and pressure cause the release of water from the subducting slab into the mantle above it. This water lowers the melting point of the mantle rock, generating magma that rises and erupts through the Caribbean Plate crust. This process has created the Central American Volcanic Arc, which runs parallel to the Pacific coastline and forms the backbone of El Salvador.
Major Peaks and Historical Activity
The volcanic arc is dominated by several large peaks, each with a distinct history.
Santa Ana Volcano
Santa Ana Volcano (Ilamatepec) is the country’s highest summit, reaching 2,381 meters (7,812 ft). It contains an acidic crater lake at its summit. Its most recent significant eruption occurred in 2005, involving a VEI 3 phreatomagmatic explosion. This event sent an ash plume up to 14 kilometers (9 miles) and caused a destructive lahar down the flank.
Izalco Volcano
Izalco is a historically prominent volcano, famous for erupting almost continuously from its formation in 1770 until 1958. Its frequent strombolian eruptions earned it the nickname “El Faro del Pacífico,” or “The Lighthouse of the Pacific,” as it provided a natural nighttime beacon for ships. This symmetrical stratovolcano rises to about 1,950 meters (6,400 ft) and is one of the youngest volcanoes in the Americas.
San Miguel Volcano
San Miguel Volcano (Chaparrastique) is a symmetrical cone standing at 2,130 meters (6,990 ft). It is considered one of El Salvador’s most active volcanoes. It has a long record of historical eruptions, including a major event in 2013 that forced the evacuation of thousands of people. The summit crater is often bare due to its frequent activity.
Role in National Life
The intense geological heat from the volcanoes is harnessed for a significant portion of the nation’s electricity supply. El Salvador is a pioneer in geothermal energy, utilizing steam and hot water from underground reservoirs near volcanic centers. The two main geothermal plants, Ahuachapán and Berlín, contribute approximately 21 to 26 percent of the national electricity matrix.
Volcanic activity has also provided the country with fertile agricultural land. The breakdown of volcanic ash and rock creates a soil type known as Andisol, which is rich in minerals like potassium and magnesium. This porous, well-draining soil, combined with the high altitude slopes, creates ideal conditions for cultivating high-quality specialty coffee, particularly in the Apaneca-Ilamatepec mountain range.