| Volcán Tacaná | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,060 m (13,320 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 1,030 m (3,380 ft) |
| Listing | |
| Coordinates | 15°07′57″N92°06′31″W / 15.13250°N 92.10861°W /15.13250; -92.10861 |
| Geography | |
  Tacaná Tacaná (Mexico) Show map of Mexico Tacaná Tacaná (Guatemala) Show map of Guatemala | |
| Parent range | Sierra Madre de Chiapas |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Volcanic arc | Central America Volcanic Arc |
| Last eruption | May 1986 |
The volcanoTacaná is the second highest peak in Central America at 4,060 metres (13,320 ft), located in theSierra Madre de Chiapas of westernGuatemala and southernMexico.[1] It is also known in Mexico asVolcán Tacina.[2]
The volcano is located within theTacaná municipality of theSan Marcos Department in Guatemala; and within theCacahoatán andUnión Juárez Municipalities ofChiapas state in Mexico.
Its last known eruption was registered in 1986 — a smallphreatic eruption in May — but it is still considered as dangerous to more than 250,000 people residing in the area.
Tacaná is the first of hundreds of volcanoes in a 1,500 km (930 mi) km row, arranged NW to SE, parallel to the Pacific Ocean coast ofCentral America, known as theCentral America Volcanic Arc, formed by an activesubduction zone along the western boundary of theCaribbean Plate.
The agricultural valley at its NNE foothills is covered with thick deposits oflahars. From itsheadwaters in Guatemala, the valley drains through Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. Consequently,mudflows from futureeruptions could be dangerous to those in their path in both countries.[3]
Tacaná is astratovolcano (composite volcano) that is surrounded by deeplydissectedplutonic andmetamorphic terrain. It has a 9 km (5.6 mi) widecaldera, with its elongated summit dominated by severallava domes and three large calderas breached to the south.[1]
Mildphreatic eruptions of Tacaná took place in historical times. Its most powerful known explosive activity, which includedpyroclastic flows, occurred at about 70 AD (± 100 years). That large explosion has resulted in Tacaná being classified with a volcanic explosivity index of 4 by theSmithsonianNational Museum of Natural History'sGlobal Volcanism Program.[4]
Tacaná is part of the Central American Core volcanic chain, which contains fragile ecosystems and rich biodiversity of cultural, scientific, economic and biological relevance, particularly in the high mountain ecosystem. Its landscapes and volcanic edifice present geophysical features of great scientific and aesthetic value.
Consequently, it has been included inUNESCO'sWorld Network of Biosphere Reserves of the Man and Biosphere Program (MAB).[5]
The summit of Tacaná can be reached in about 10 hours. There are two approaches to the mountain. One is from Finca Navidad, south of the volcano, passing through Tojquián Grande, on the Guatemalan side, and moving parallel to the border with Mexico.
The second route is from the Mexican side, from El Carmen, Talismán bridge, Cacahoatán, and Unión Juárez by vehicle, and from there on foot.[6]This route crosses into Guatemala and has been described as one of the most interesting hikes in Central America, leading up winding paths through lush rainforests, subsistence farming villages, up ancient magma flows, and rock-filled temperate forests before reaching the top of the lowest caldera. From there the final stretch to the summit provides panoramic views high above the clouds as the tree-line gradually diminishes with altitude. Several major volcanos within the Central American Volcanic Arch includingTajumulco are visible from the summit.
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