The Atitlan lake occupies part of a large caldera.
Three large calderas have formed in the Atitlan region in
the past 14 million years.
The modern Atitlan (III) Caldera formed approximately 84,000
years ago,
shortly after an eruption of about 250 cubic kilometers of
rhyolitic magma forming the Los Chocoyas igbimbrite.
In the last 84,000 years there have been at least four explosive
rhyolitic sequences,
numerous andesitic tephras, and the construction of three
stratovolcanoes.
Two of the rhyolites were in the time frame from 84,000 to
about 60,000,
and two closely spaced around 40,000 years ago.
The following stamp was issued July 30th, 1991.
The following souvenir sheet was issued March 31st, 1970
(courtesy of Paul Laniosz)
The next stamps form part of the 1935 regular definitive issue.
2,500,000 were printed.
They were printed in photogravure by Johan Enschede and Sons,
designed by Carlos Marckwordt.
In mid 1936, all ½ cent stamps had been sold so the
Government ordered Tipografia Nacional to bisect 1,000 sheets of the 1c.
A further 20,000 were overprinted for the Philatelic Exposition
of 1937. The stamps were issued March 15th.
The stamp shows the lake with the volcanoes Atitlan and San
Pedro in the background.
Many thanks to Eric Dyck for stamps and information.
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