Why are there so many volcanoes in Central America?

Central America experiences frequent volcanic eruptions because it is located where several tectonic plates meet and exert pressure on one another.1

The region is characterized by subduction-zone processes, where these massive lithospheric plates converge. When these plates collide, the one bearing heavier oceanic crust is forced downward into the partially molten mantle beneath the overriding plate. This process leads to the formation of volcanic arcs, as magma is generated and rises to the surface.23

This geologic activity is a defining feature of the region's landscape, such as in southern Guatemala, which is dominated by a string of 27 volcanoes extending between Mexico and El Salvador. Because these plate boundaries are highly dynamic, the region also experiences frequent earthquakes as the plates rupture and slip against each other.413