VINTAGE POSTCARD 1940
Volcàn Tajumulco (4, 220 m - 13,850 ft)
Guatemala
In The Volcàn Tajumulco seem from San Marcos, photo print 1940
The mountain
Volcán Tajumulco (4, 220 m - 13,850 ft) is the highest mountain in Central America. It is a large stratovolcano situated in the department of San Marcos in western Guatemala. IIt is part of the mountain range of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, which begins in Mexico's southernmost state of Chiapas. Tajumulco is composed of andesitic-dacitic lavas on the top of a large escarpment of uncertain origin. It has two summits, one of which has a crater 50–70 metres (160–230 ft) wide. A lava flow from the north-western summit descends into a steep valley on the same side of the volcano.
The volcano's eruptive history is unclear and the date of its last eruption is unknown. Reports from the 18th and early 19th century claim to record eruptions but these are considered unlikely.
The region around Tajumulco is relatively sparsely populated. The nearest town is San Marcos, located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) to the south-east. Although it is infrequently visited, the volcano can be climbed in about five hours from the hamlet of Tuichán. Several tour companies offer trips up the mountain, but the high altitude requires acclimatization before the summit can safely be reached. Views are variable as the area is frequently covered in mist and cloud, with conditions at their least favorable between April and September