Santa Ana Volcano
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| Santa Ana Volcano | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view of Santa Ana Volcano |
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| Elevation | 2,381 metres (7,812 ft) |
| Location | El Salvador |
| Range | Cordillera de Apaneca |
| Coordinates | |
| Type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | 2005 |
The Santa Ana Volcano or Ilamatepec (Spanish: volcán de Santa Ana) is a large stratovolcano located in the Santa Ana department of El Salvador. At 2,381 metres above sea level, it is the highest volcano in the country. It is located immediately west of Coatepeque Caldera.
The summit of Santa Ana features four nested calderas and volcanic craters, with the innermost containing a small crater lake. Collapse of the summit during the late Pleistocene produced a massive debris avalanche that reached the Pacific Ocean, and subsequent eruptions have largely rebuilt the edifice. There have been numerous historical eruptions since the 1500s, both at the summit and from cinder ones on the lower flanks.
On October 1, 2005, the volcano erupted, killing at least two people and forcing the evacuation of the nearby town of San Blas. Damage from the eruption exacerbated the effects of Hurricane Stan, which made landfall nearby in Mexico three days later on October 4 and caused mudslides that killed at least 69 people in El Salvador (as well as others in neighbouring countries). The most recent previous eruption had been in 1920.
