Volcano

Volcán Masaya

Caldera · 594 m · Nicaragua

Volcán Masaya sits on the Caribbean Plate, in a subduction zone. 40 eruptions are known since the end of the last ice age, the most recent in 2026.

Masaya, in Nicaragua, is a caldera whose Santiago crater constantly releases a plume of gas. The Spanish called it the mouth of hell and planted a cross there in the 16th century.

A lava lake reappeared at the bottom of the crater in late 2015. Visitors can drive to the rim, which makes it one of the most accessible active volcanoes in the world. Its acid gases damage crops downwind.

Elevation

594 m

Type

Caldera

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone, continental crust

Dominant Rock

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Plate

Caribbean Plate

Country

Nicaragua

Last Eruption

2026

Known Eruptions (Holocene)

40

Max. Explosivity (VEI)

6

Nearby Cities

Cities of more than 20,000 people within 100 km. At least 1,185,000 people live in those within 30 km.

• 8 kmMasaya130,000 people
• 16 kmJinotepe30,000 people
• 22 kmManagua920,000 people
• 24 kmGranada‎105,000 people
• 71 kmRivas32,000 people

Notable Eruptions

Eruptions that caused deaths or damage, or with an explosivity index of 4 and above (NOAA).

• 4050 BCE4050 BCE Eruption · VEI 6

• Wikipedia article

Sources : Global Volcanism Program, 2026. Volcanoes of the World (v. 5.4.0; 7 Aug 2026), Smithsonian Institution, doi:10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW5-2026.5.4 (volcano.si.edu) · NOAA NCEI · USGS · Wikidata