EL SALVADOR TOURISM TURISMO | Page 6

IZALCO VOLCANO Izalco volcano was born in 1770 and is the youngest volcano in El Slavador. It formed on the southern flank of Santa Ana volcano located 45 km NW of San Salvador city. Frequent strombolian eruptions and sometimes lava flows have built a largely unvegetated cone 650 m high which contains a 250 m wide and 50 m deep summit crater. Volcán Izalco was frequently active between 1770 and 1966, but has been in its longest repose interval of its short history since then. Similarly to Stromboli volcano in Italy, it acquired the nickname of "El Faro", the "Lighthouse of the Pacific", because of its frequent strombolian eruptions that provided a natural night-time beacon beacon for ships. Izalco is one of the most frequently active volcanoes in North and Central America.