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Chinameca (volcano)
Encyclopedia
Chinameca is a stratovolcano
in central-eastern El Salvador
. It lies north of San Miguel volcano
and rises over the town of Chinameca. The volcano is topped by a 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide caldera
known as Laguna Seca el Pacayal, and a satellite cone
on the west side, Cerro el Limbo, rises higher than the caldera rim. Fumarole
s can be found on the north side, and it has been the site of a geothermal exploration program.
Stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions...
in central-eastern El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. It lies north of San Miguel volcano
San Miguel (volcano)
San Miguel is a stratovolcano in central-eastern El Salvador. It is situated about 15 km southwest of the city of San Miguel. It is one of the most active volcanoes in this country.- References :*...
and rises over the town of Chinameca. The volcano is topped by a 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide caldera
Caldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
known as Laguna Seca el Pacayal, and a satellite cone
Satellite cone
A parasitic cone is the cone-shaped accumulation of volcanic material not part of the central vent of a volcano. One forms by eruptions from fractures on the flank of the volcano. These fractures occur because of the flank of the volcano is unstable...
on the west side, Cerro el Limbo, rises higher than the caldera rim. Fumarole
Fumarole
A fumarole is an opening in a planet's crust, often in the neighborhood of volcanoes, which emits steam and gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen sulfide. The steam is created when superheated water turns to steam as its pressure drops when it emerges from...
s can be found on the north side, and it has been the site of a geothermal exploration program.