Ilopango Volcano

island, El Salvador

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June 17, 2026

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Lake Ilopango is a lake in south-central El Salvador, occupying the crater of an extinct volcano. It is located on the borders of the San Salvador, La Paz, and Cuscatlán departments. The lake has an area of 40 square miles and is situated at an altitude of 1,450 feet.1

In 1880, the water level rose, creating a channel and leaving a volcanic island in the center of the lake. This island, known as Ilopango Volcano, is 150 feet high and 500 feet across. The lake has since become a popular tourist destination. Lake Ilopango is classified as a caldera, which is a large depression formed by the collapse of landforms after significant magma expulsion.12

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Lake Ilopango
The island, known as Ilopango Volcano, is 150 ft high and 500 ft across. In 1928 the water again rose, destroying houses along the shoreline. The lake has since become a popular tourist resort, with activity centred on the towns of Asino and Ilopango on the western shore.
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The island, known as Ilopango Volcano, is 150 ft high and 500 ft across. In 1928 the water again rose, destroying houses along the shoreline. The lake has since become a popular tourist resort, with activity centred on the towns of Asino and Ilopango on the western shore.
Read More