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Popocatepetl is currently the highest active volcano in the Northern Hemisphere and is located near Mexico city.

Photo by Steven Zarch, May 8, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Facts
  • The Popocatepetl, meaning "Smoking Mountain", volcano is a snow-capped stratovolcano that is13,776 ft (4200 m) above the basin surrounding it.
  •  When Popocatepetl erupts it explodes rock and ash in an airborne burst that can spread for miles
  •  Popocatepetl is built on an older volcano which adds 12,464 ft (3800 m) to the volcanoes elevation.
  • the crater is 2,007 by 1,312 ft (612 m by 400 m) across and has a small spatter cone that rises 115 ft (35 m) above the crater floor
  • Popo as often called, has erupted at least 36 times, with the most recent activity starting in 1995 and continuiny into 1997
     
Fact Box

Other names/spellings

Volc·n PopocatÈpetl

Nearest Major Airport

Mexico City, Mexico

Convenient Center(s)

Amecameca, Mexico

Most Recent Eruption

2003

Volcanic Status

Active

First Climber(s)

Tecuanipas tribe

Year First Climbed

1289

Best Climbing Months

December, January, February, March, April

(dry season)

Longitude

98ƒ 38' W

Latitude

19ƒ 02' N

Location

Puebla, Mexico

Elevation (feet)

17,887

Elevation (meters)

5,452

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Eruptions of Popocatepetl Volcano

1996-2003, 1994-95, 1947, 1942-43, 1933, 1923-24, 1920-22, 1852, 1827-34, 1802-04, 1720, 1697,

1663-67, 1642, 1592-94, 1590, 1580, 1571, 1548, 1542, 1539-40, 1530, 1528, 1519-23?, 1518, 1512?,

1509?, 1504, 1488, 1363, 1354, 1345-47

What is a stratovolcano?

Stratovolcanoes are the most common type of volcano. They account for 60% of all volcanoes.

These volcanoes typically have the steep conical form that most people associate with a volcano.

A stratovolcano consists of explosively erupted cinders and ash mixed with lava flows.

It forms from a central conduit. The upper part is usually very steep (35 degrees) and

contains loose rock. It may be almost impossible to climb safely on these steep slopes.

Loose ash and cinders can make progress extremely difficult with one step up and two

steps down marking the progress up the slope. There is also the danger of rockfall

in the unstable environment.

Map

 

Picture gallary

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Volcano Diagram

http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/north_america/mexico/popocatepetl.html

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