1. ofGUATEMALA Volcanoes

2. VOLCANOES Guatemala is know for its Volcanoes

3. With 33 volcanoes spread throughout its highlands, Guatemala is one of those rear destinations that rewards even the most jaded world traveler with revelatory experiences. Stark silhouettes rise above Guatemala's mountainous landscape and only few visitors will return home without pictures of these giants in their collection of snapshots. Here are a few examples:

4. FUEGO Fuego Fuego is one of Central America's most active volcanoes, is one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala's former capital, Antigua. Growth of the modern Fuego volcano followed, continuing the southward migration of volcanism that began at Acatenango. In contrast to the mostly andesitic Acatenango volcano, eruptions at Fuego have become more mafic with time, and most historical activity has produced basaltic rocks. Frequent vigorous historical eruptions have been recorded at Fuego since the onset of the Spanish era in 1524, and have produced major ashfalls, along with occasional pyroclastic flows and lava flows. Fuego has erupted in 2002 and was correctly forecasted by ERUPTION Pro 10.4. It is currently forecasted to erupt in 2003 with =>73.54% probability.

5. Santa maria Santa María volcano, the most active in Guatemala, has a sharp-topped, conical profile that is cut on the SW flank by a large, 1-km-wide crater formed during a catastrophic eruption in 1902. The large dacitic Santiaguito lava-dome complex (center) has been growing at the base of the 1902 crater since 1922. Lava flows can be seen extending down the flank of the compound lava dome, whose growth is accompanied by a frequent minor explosions, along with periodic lava extrusion, larger explosions, pyroclastic flows, and lahars.

6. Lake of atitlan The famous Lake of Atitlan is host to several volcanoes, including the Toliman and the San Pedro volcanoes

7. Pacaya volcano in action

8. ANTIGUA Antigua is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Guatemala

9. Antigua Guatemala means the "old Guatemala". It was founded on March 10, 1543. and served as Spanish colonial capital of Central America. The conquistadores named the city La Muy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad de Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala ("The Very Noble and Very Loyal City of Santiago of the Knights of Guatemala"), in honor of their patron saint, Santiago, or St. James. In 1773, it suffered two severe earthquakes, which destroyed much of the town. The Spanish Crown ordered the city rebuilt at a safer location, where what is now Guatemala City, the modern capital of Guatemala. In 1776 the badly damaged city was ordered abandoned, although not everyone left. Here are a few images of beautiful Antigua:March 101543Central America1773 earthquakesGuatemala City1776