Santa Maria (Guatemala)

Santa María, in Guatemala’s volcanic highlands, is infamous for its catastrophic 1902 eruption—one of the 20th century’s largest—which killed thousands and left a mile-wide crater. Its active vent, Santiaguito, has erupted continuously since 1922, producing lava flows, pyroclastic surges, and ash plumes threatening nearby farms and towns. Designated a Decade Volcano for its hazards, Santa María’s unpredictability and proximity to Quetzaltenango (population 225,000) make it a high-risk hotspot. A stark reminder of nature’s fury, it remains both a scientific priority and a regional peril.