This remarkable volcano has a dangerous and deadly history attached to it — especially after it completely destroyed a city 400 years ago.

In 1902, stereographers were assessing the region when they decided to nickname this deadly volcano the “smoking terror.”

Momotombo’s latest eruptions occurred in November 2015 and February 2016, which saw major outbursts from the volcano. Before these events, the volcano hadn’t erupted since 1905.

A new photo taken from space appears to show the “smoking terror” burping up toxic clouds of gas only a few years after its latest eruptions.

According to local reports, people started feeling tremors and noticing steam plumes weeks before the eruption. Fortunately, no one living around the volcano was hurt. However, at least six communities surrounding Momotombo reported ash fall. As a precaution, schools in the region were also closed.

They opted instead for a four-mile cordon around the volcano. However, residents were uncomfortable with Momotombo’s strange activity. Resident Lourdes Espinoza said: “I’ve never seen the Momotombo throw ash, it is something new for us residents.” Wilfried Strauch from the Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies said the majority of the ash and lava was flowing down the north face of the mountain.

Therefore, these burps could be because of its past eruptions in the last 10 years — or before a new eruption sometime in the future.

While this volcano often burps these clouds before and after an eruption, researchers have noted that Momotombo hasn’t seemed to do this at all in recent years.

Momotombo is only about 4,500 years old. Its peak is around 4,167 feet above sea level. The volcano has also had major eruptions in just the last 500 years alone.

These fumes are probably a mix of water vapor and toxic gases. These gases could include the foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide. Over thousands of years, this gas has stained the summit yellow.

This deadly event occurred after the volcano experienced a massive outburst, which then triggered an earthquake. This ended up destroying the city of León, a Spanish-controlled town.

Meanwhile, the ruins of the old León from 1610 can still be seen — and the region is even a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The remains of León Viejo were uncovered in 1967, and archaeological excavations began the following year.

The city was moved into the province of Nagrandano with the indigenous people, the Imabite. In the language Nagrandano, Imabite means “city swallowed by water.” The eruption of Momotombo left León Viejo submerged by Lake Xolotlán. There are currently 15,000 natives in the city who celebrated the anniversary with an artistic and colorful procession.

Momotombito is a smaller stratovolcano that is considered to be Momotombo’s sister at 1,150 feet tall. Both Momotombo and Momotombito were thought to be formed at the same time.

These lava fields were created after the volcano’s most recent eruptions, as molten rock flowed down various lava channels to form these fields.

Lonely Planet dubs the volcano the country’s “most beautiful threat.” The red and black volcano sits over 4,000 feet above Lago de Managua. Tourists come to visit both the volcano and the ruins of León and Mateare.  

To many Indigenous peoples, the volcano is a sacred place and has become an integral part of Nicaraguan art and literature over the centuries. In the native Aztec language, Nahuatl, Momotombo means “great boiling summit.”

Climbing Momotombo is no easy feat. It is an eight to 10-hour round-trip, according to Lonely Planet. However, the toxic fumes spouting from the volcano could become an obstacle for people who want to take on the volcano.

Recently, an Italian volcano, Mount Etna, erupted. Alfio Ferrara, a spokesperson for the alpine rescue service in Sicily, warned that tourists should not underestimate the “high temperatures, strong humidity and the sudden jump in altitude” if they planned to climb the mountain during an eruption.

The gases leaking out of the volcano could exacerbate the already high temperatures. Furthermore, during Nicaragua’s current rainy spate, the gases could lock in a lot of humidity further up the mountain. These can make climbing up Momotombo more difficult than usual.

This revelation led to the region becoming a geothermal plant in 1983, which has allowed electricity to be generated from this volcano’s emissions.

As magma travels deeper into the ground around the volcano, the shape of the ground changes. This can give way to landslides, posing as much of a threat as the immediate dangers of ashfall and lava.

According to the Facebook group Backpackers of Nicaragua, it is crucial to be prepared. The group advises hikers to wear appropriate shoes and clothes. It also recommends staying updated on guidance from the local authorities and following it. Access to Momotombo’s summit could be restricted due to volcanic activity.