Caliente surface

An unobstructed view of the surface of Santiaguito volcano's El Caliente dome. During Jan 2009 the lava was flowing southward out of the vent (away from the observer), as opposed to eastward 2 years earlier (to the left as viewed here). Note also the earlier crater rims (right hand side of the picture) which were centres of activity prior to 1989/1990 when the locus moved to its current location after reconstructing the entire left hand side of the dome which had collapsed. An old lava flow can be seen snaking its way south on the left side of the picture.