Smithsonian Global Volcanism ProgramVNUM 342100

Agua

Central America Volcanic Arc, Guatemala. This page separates the permanent volcano catalogue, historical eruption records, and selective weekly activity reports.

Coordinates
14.46° N, 90.74° W
Elevation
3,760 m
Last recorded eruption
Not supplied
Historical eruption records
0
Primary type
Stratovolcano
Evidence
Evidence Credible
GVP database
5.4.0
Catalogue revision
Revision 2

Volcano profile

Volcanic landform
Composite
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Geologic epoch
Holocene
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Region
Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions
Subregion
Central America Volcanic Arc

Geological summary

The symmetrical, forested Volcán de Agua stratovolcano forms an impressive backdrop to the city of Antigua, Guatemala, opposite from the Fuego and Acatenango volcanoes. The isolated basaltic andesite to andesite edifice makes it a prominent landmark visible from all directions. A circular 280-m-wide crater is breached on the NNE, six small pit craters are located on the NW flank, and two small cones lie on the S flank. No dated Holocene tephra deposits or recorded eruptions are known from Agua, but its name (the water volcano) originates from a devastating mudflow on 11 September 1541. The mudflow destroyed Ciudad Vieja, the first Guatemalan capital city established by the Spanish Conquistadors, prompting the establishment of a new capital at nearby Antigua.

Separate activity dataset

Weekly volcanic activity reports

Preliminary and selective

Smithsonian/USGS weekly reports are selective and preliminary. They are not a comprehensive list of all eruptions or volcanic activity.

No weekly report appears on this page. Absence from the weekly report does not establish an absence of volcanic activity.

Historical catalogue records

Eruption history

Dates can be approximate, incomplete, or BCE. These are historical catalogue observations, not a statement about present activity.

No historical eruption records appear on this page.

Source and attribution

Source: Data: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program, Volcanoes of the World.

View the original Smithsonian GVP record

Global Volcanism Program, 2026. Volcanoes of the World 5.4.0.

The GVP database is scientific documentation that changes as evidence is reviewed. Historical dates may be approximate or uncertain. This platform is not an official emergency-warning service.

Read the GVP terms of use

Data freshness

Source updated
Not supplied
Retrieved
11 Oct 2026, 13:07 UTC
GVP database version
5.4.0
Catalogue revision
2

Source-update and retrieval times describe this catalogue record. Each weekly report carries its own publication date and preliminary status.