Cerro Quemado (volcán)

Cerro Quemado (volcano) — Cerro Quemado (whose name means “Burned Peak” in
Spanish), is an active volcano that may erupt again in the near future. It’s located 30
minutes (7 km.) south of the regional city, Quezaltenango (Xela), or 3 ½ hours (203 km.)
west of Guatemala City. About 1200 years ago, part of Cerro Quemado's dome
collapsed, producing a debris avalanche and an associated lateral explosion that swept
across the valley to the west as far as the flanks of Siete Orejas volcano. The latest
eruption in 1818 produced a blocky 2.5-km-long lava flow. Hot springs are located on
the northern and eastern flanks of Cerro Quemado, and the Zuníl geothermal field, the
site of a geothermal exploration project, lies on the southeast flank of Cerro Quemado.