Guatemala’s Pacaya volcano has been in a fairly active period since about 1961. Earlier this year, a new fissure vent opened, and rivers of lava began flowing out, threatening several nearby communities. The lava has been advancing slowly, and locals and tourists have been making visits to the lava flows. Some have come to take in the spectacle and make a few photos, but others have come on pilgrimages, offering prayers, hoping to slow Pacaya’s activity—and at least one person turned the red-hot rocks into his own pizza oven, cooking up a meal for other visitors.
Pilgrims, Prayers, and Pizza on Pacaya Volcano
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![A person sits alone on a hillside watching lava flow.]()
Read moreA man watches as red-hot lava flows during an eruption of the Pacaya volcano at San Vicente de Sales municipality in Guatemala's Escuintla region on May 8, 2021. #
Luis Echeverria / Reuters -
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![Lightning strikes as lava flows from Pacaya volcano.]()
Read moreLightning strikes as lava flows from Guatemala's Pacaya volcano, as seen from Cerro Chino in the San Vicente Pacaya municipality, on May 2, 2021. #
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![People stand near a slow-moving lava flow at night.]()
Read morePeople watch as lava flows from Pacaya volcano at La Brena farm in El Patrocinio village on March 25, 2021. #
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![An aerial view of lava flowing near a small village]()
Read moreLava flows down the slopes of Pacaya volcano near El Patrocinio village in San Vicente Pacaya, Guatemala, on April 17, 2021. #
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![A woman carries a wooden cross near a lava flow.]()
Read moreOn May 5, 2021, a woman carries a cross during a pilgrimage to pray that the Pacaya volcano decreases its activity and spares nearby villages. #
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![People stand near the edge of slowly moving lava.]()
Read morePeople stand near the edge of slowly moving lava near El Patrocinio village on April 16, 2021. #
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![Residents carry likenesses of religious figures near a lava flow.]()
Read moreIn San Vicente Pacaya, residents carry likenesses of the town's patron saint, San Vicente (right); Jesus Resucitado (center); and the Virgin Mary during a religious procession at El Rodeo village on April 28, 2021. Residents of El Patrocinio and El Rodeo villages make pilgrimages calling for the cessation of Pacaya's volcanic activity. #
Johan Ordonez / AFP / Getty -
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![A woman carries a cross near a lava flow.]()
Read moreA woman carries a cross during a pilgrimage to Pacaya volcano in San Vicente Pacaya on May 5, 2021. #
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![A man sprinkles holy water toward lava.]()
Read moreA man sprinkles holy water toward lava flowing from Pacaya volcano, praying for it to decrease its activity, on May 5, 2021. #
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![Several people kneel in prayer in front of a volcano.]()
Read moreResidents kneel in prayer, facing the volcano in Cerro Chino, on May 5, 2021. #
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![A small eruption is seen at night.]()
Read moreThe erupting Pacaya volcano, seen from San Vicente Pacaya, on February 17, 2021 #
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![Red-hot lava flows during an eruption.]()
Read moreRed-hot lava flows during an eruption of Pacaya volcano on May 8, 2021. #
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![Lava flows, seen at night]()
Read moreLava flows in San Vicente Pacaya on May 5, 2021 #
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![People watch as lava flows slowly past.]()
Read morePeople watch as lava flows slowly past, in San Vicente de Sales municipality on May 8, 2021. #
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![Family members pose for photos near lava.]()
Read moreFamily members pose for photos near lava flowing from Pacaya volcano near El Patrocinio village on April 16, 2021. #
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![A man pokes a lava flow with a stick.]()
Read moreA man pokes a lava flow with a stick near El Patrocinio village on April 15, 2021. #
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![A crowd of people gather near slow-flowing lava.]()
Read moreA view of the Pacaya lava flow, seen from the community of Las Granadillas, on March 29, 2021 #
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![Lava flows swiftly down a valley.]()
Read moreLava flows in a river down the slopes of Pacaya volcano, as seen from Cerro Chino, on May 11, 2021. #
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![A man carries a table along a volcanic hillside.]()
Read more(1 of 6) David Garcia carries a table used to prepare food in San Vicente Pacaya municipality, on May 11, 2021. #
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![A man rolls out pizza dough near volcanic rocks.]()
Read more(2 of 6) David Garcia prepares a pizza to cook on the hot volcanic rock nearby, part of the lava flow from Pacaya volcano, on May 11, 2021. #
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![A man putting cheese and toppings on pizza dough]()
Read more(3 of 6) David Garcia lays out his cheese and toppings. #
Johan Ordonez / AFP / Getty -
![A man walks across hot rocks to place a pizza to cook.]()
Read more(4 of 6) David Garcia places his pizza on the hot rocks of a lava flow on May 11, 2021. #
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![Cheese melts as a pizza is cooked on hot volcanic rocks.]()
Read more(5 of 6) Cheese begins to melt as a pizza is cooked on hot volcanic rocks on Cerro Chino. #
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![People partake of Pacaya pizza.]()
Read more(6 of 6) David Garcia serves pizza to tourists after cooking it on the lava flow nearby, on May 11, 2021. #
Johan Ordonez / AFP / Getty -
![A woman watches as lava flows slowly past.]()
Read moreA woman watches as lava flows from Guatemala's Pacaya volcano in San Vicente Pacaya municipality, Guatemala, on May 11, 2021. #
Johan Ordonez / AFP / Getty -
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