Atitlan was formed in an immense volcanic explosion 85,000 years ago. Like Pompeii and Mt. St. Helen volcanic pressure was released with devastating results.
H owever the explosion here was much more destructive.
The explosion at Mt. St. Helen released 2 cu. 6 cu. kilometers. Atitlan discharged over 180 cu. It drops off all the way to sea level on the back side of the volcanos. It is probably a hundred meters to the bottom of the lake directly under this fisherman.