0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Kilometers

R

ío

Ma

ch

o

de

Monte

Río

Chaspa

Río

Chirigagua

Río Majagua

Río Quisigá

Río

Cochea

Río David

Río Caldera

Dolega

La Concepción

Paso

Canoas

Nuevo

Bambito

VOLCÁN

BARÚ

Cerro

 Punta

3474 m

Cuesta

de Piedra

Pan-American Highway

Río Chiriquí Viejo

Río Chiriquí Viejo

Base from Republic of Panama’s Instituto Geográfico Nacional, 1:50,000-scale 

quadrangle maps. Edition 1: Cerro Punta, La Unión, Rio Changuinola. Edition 2: 

Boquete (1993), Gualaca (1992), La Concepcion (1992), Villa Neily (1992), Volcán 

(1995). Edition 3: Plaza de Caisán (2002)

Base used here is hillshade relief map made from 10-m digital elevation model. 

Topographic and hydrographic data scanned from clear-film separates by Titan 

Averstar Inc., 2007

Universal Transverse Mercator, North American datum 1927, zone 17

Volcano-hazards interpretation from geologic mapping and stratigraphic 

investigations Jan-Feb 2007 by D.R. Sherrod and J.W. Vallance, assisted by S. 

Lasso, A. Tapia, and E. Chichaco. Lahar hazard zones by A. Tapia from output of 

LAHARZ software, Sept 2007

This map is 

Geological S

Code. Any u

and does no

CLOUDS

OBSCURE

TOPOGRAPHY

8o 35'

8o 30'

8o 25'

8o 20'

8o 15'

8o 35'

8o 30'

8o 25'

8o 20'

8o 15'

 82o 50' 82o 45' 82o 40' 82o 35' 82o 30' 82o 25' 82o 20'

 82o 50' 82o 45' 82o 40' To David 21 km 82o 35' 82o 30' 82o 25' 82o 20'

PANAMÁ

COSTA RICA

AREA OF MAP

EXPLANATION

Pyroclastic-Flow Hazard Zone

Area subject to inundation by pyroclastic flows. Zone defined on bas

topographic setting. Overlaps substantially with proximal lahar hazar

Pyroclastic-Surge Hazard Zone

Likely extent beyond pyroclastic flow hazard zone that surges may d

Proximal Lahar Hazard Zone

Area that could be affected by slope failure, avalanche, and lahars fro

rainfall event or earthquake, some drainages may be affected by slop

may be unaffected. Debris avalanches and lahars originate within the 

to move farther downstream beyond the flanks of the volcano and be

Includes:

Area likely to become part of proximal zone as dome growth overwh

Distal Lahar Hazard Zones

Channels that head within the proximal lahar hazard zone of Volcán B

by landslides, debris avalanches, torrential rains, and earthquakes. Di

lahar volumes into:

Area that could be inundated by a lahar having a volume of 0.3 millio

Area that could be inundated by a lahar having a volume of 1 million 

Area that could be inundated by a lahar having a volume of 3 million 

Area that could be inundated by a lahar having a volume of 10 millio

Tephra-Fall Deposit

Distribution of fallout from recent eruption, using isothickness lines

 10 cm

 3 cm

Volcano Hazards of Volcán Barú, Republic of Panamá

By

David R. Sherrod, James W. Vallance, Arkin Tapia Espinosa, and John P. McGeehin

2008 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Prepared in cooperation with the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT) of the Republic of Panamá

 and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the U.S Agency for International Development,

as part of a program to reduce the risks from natural hazards in Central America

Río

Ga

rich

é

COSTA RICA 

PANAMÁ

PANAMÁ

COSTA RICA 

PROVINCIA DE CHIRIQUÍ

PROVINCIA DE BOCAS DEL TORO

Alto

Boquete

Enlargement showing Boquete area and distribution of distal lahar hazard 

Enlargement showing Volcán area and distribution of distal lahar hazard 

Pa c i f i c O c e a n

C a r i b b e a n S e a

Volcán

Boquete

The hazard zones shown here are defined broadly. Particular sites t

each zone cannot be specified in advance. Once precursory activity 

scientists can better define areas likely to be affected.