Volcanoes 🌋

Belize does not have any active volcanoes. 

The country is located on the Caribbean coast of Central America, and while there are some volcanic regions nearby, such as in Guatemala to the west, Belize itself doesn't have volcanic activity. Belize is known for its beautiful coral reefs, lush jungles, and Mayan ruins rather than volcanic landscapes.

While Belize itself doesn't have volcanoes, there are some nearby volcanic regions and underwater features in the region:

Guatemala: To the west of Belize, Guatemala is home to several active volcanoes, such as Pacaya, Fuego, and Atitlán. These volcanoes are part of the Central American Volcanic Arc, which is an active volcanic zone caused by the subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the Caribbean Plate.

Underwater Volcanoes: In the Caribbean Sea, there are underwater volcanic features, particularly near the Honduran coastline to the north. While not actively erupting, some of these underwater volcanoes can contribute to the formation of seamounts (underwater mountains) and hydrothermal vents.

Blue Hole: Though not a volcanic feature, the Great Blue Hole in Belize is a famous marine sinkhole. It's part of the Belize Barrier Reef and is often mistaken for a volcanic crater due to its circular shape. The Blue Hole is actually a collapsed cave system, not a volcanic structure, but it gives the impression of something formed by a large, explosive geological event.

What it's Really Like to Dive the Great Blue Hole – Belize Adventure

Image: Great Blue Hole 


Sources:

https://volcano.si.edu/reports_weekly.cfm

https://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/tsunami/maps





Comments

  1. Ana GGMarch 3, 2025 at 4:45 PM

    Interesting read!- what would your mitigation measures be for this hazard?

    ReplyDelete

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