Coatepeque Caldera

Coatepeque Caldera (Nawat: cōātepēc, "at the snake hill") is a volcanic caldera in El Salvador in Central America. The caldera was formed during a series of rhyolitic explosive eruptions between about 72,000 and 57,000 years ago. Since then, basaltic cinder cones and lava flows formed near the west edge of the caldera, and six rhyodacitic lava domes have formed. The youngest dome, Cerro Pacho, formed after 8000 BC.

Coatepeque Caldera
Satellite view of the Coatepeque Caldera
Satellite view of the Coatepeque Caldera
Highest point
Elevation746 m (2,448 ft)[1]
Coordinates13.87°N 89.55°W / 13.87; -89.55
Dimensions
Length7 km (4.3 mi)
Width10 km (6.2 mi)
Naming
Native nameCōātepēc (Pipil)
English translation"at the snake hill"
Geography
Coatepeque Caldera is located in El Salvador
Coatepeque Caldera
Coatepeque Caldera
CountryEl Salvador
DepartmentSanta Ana
MunicipalityCoatepeque
Geology
Formed byVolcanic eruption
Mountain typeCaldera
Type of rockRhyolite, Dacite, Andesite/Basaltic andesite
Volcanic arcCentral America Volcanic Arc
Last eruption72,000 and 57,000 years ago
Lake Coatepeque
LocationCoatepeque, Santa Ana
Coordinates13.864702°N 89.546800°W / 13.864702; -89.546800
TypeCaldera lake
Native nameLago de Coatepeque (Spanish)
Basin countriesEl Salvador
Max. length7 km (4.3 mi)[2]
Max. width10 km (6.2 mi)[2]
Surface area10 sq mi (26 km2)
Average depth115 ft (35 m)
Max. depth8,530 ft (2,600 m)
Surface elevation745 m (2,444 ft)
IslandsIsla Teopán
References[2]

Lake Coatepeque

Lake Coatepeque (Lago de Coatepeque) is a large crater lake in the east part of the Coatepeque Caldera. It is in Coatepeque municipality, Santa Ana, El Salvador. There are hot springs near the lake margins. At 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi), it is one of the largest lakes in El Salvador. In the lake is the island of Teopan, which was a Mayan site of some importance.

See also

References

  1. "Global Volcanism Program | Coatepeque Caldera". Smithsonian Institution | Global Volcanism Program. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  2. "Coatepeque Caldera - Location/Geological Setting". www.geo.mtu.edu. Retrieved 13 April 2023.


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