ABSTRACT
Active and dormant volcanoes in Central America are famous and well-known because: (1) during the 19th and 20th centuries, two of the 11 largest explosive eruptions (volcanic explosivity index, VEI na in 1835, and Santa María in 1902) occurred in this area, (2) of the 16 volcanoes on earth that have been erupting more or less continuously through > 30 years, the region has three: Santiaguito (Santa María), Pacaya, and Arenal [1], (3) many volcanoes and volcanic lakes are tourist attractions, (4) there is a high population density and several cities on their flanks or nearby, and (5) there are geothermal and hydroelectric plants, and many other development projects close to hazardous volcanoes. Moreover, of the approximately one hundred most notorious volcanoes of the world, 11 are located in Central America [2, 3].
