Volcano · Nicaragua
Masaya
Its crater sometimes holds a visible lava lake.
Status right now
No current reports
Masaya is not in the latest Smithsonian weekly report or the GDACS volcano alerts. That usually means it is quiet, but not every change is reported straight away. For official alerts, follow the local volcano observatory.
Checked 5 Nov 2026, 00:33 UTC.
Key facts
- Country
- Nicaragua
- Region
- Central America
- Type
- Caldera
- Summit
- 594 m (1,949 ft)
- Coordinates
- 11.985° N, 86.165° W
- Smithsonian number
- 344100
What kind of volcano is it?
Masaya is a caldera. A caldera is a huge basin left when a volcano empties its magma chamber in a large eruption and the ground above collapses. Calderas can stay restless for centuries, with earthquakes, ground swelling and gas.
Eruption history
| Date | VEI | Deaths | Also |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1570 | – | 400 | – |
| 4,050 BCE | 6 | – | – |
2 significant eruptions near Masaya in NOAA's Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database, which lists eruptions that caused deaths, damage or a tsunami, or were VEI 6 or larger. VEI is the Volcanic Explosivity Index, from 0 to 8.
Nearby volcanoes
- PoásCosta Rica · 290 km
- PacayaGuatemala · 549 km
- FuegoGuatemala · 580 km
- Santa MaríaGuatemala · 659 km
- Nevado del RuizColombia · 1,429 km
- FernandinaEcuador (Galápagos) · 1,497 km
Not an official warning service. In an emergency, follow your local authorities.