Santa Maria / Guatemala

Santa María Volcano, part of the Sierra Madre volcanic chain stretching across Guatemala, has a rich history filled with fascinating events and cultural significance. The massive eruption in 1902, one of the largest of the 20th century, left a lasting impact on the landscape and the people living nearby. The explosion created a large crater on the volcano's southwest side, which is now occupied by a parasitic cone called Santiaguito. This eruption also affected global climate, lowering temperatures by around 0.4°C for several years. Local indigenous people believed that the devastating 1902 eruption was a punishment from the gods for the mistreatment of their sacred lands. Today, Santa Marí...View all