Popocatépetl (Spanish:  [popoka'tepetlÌ©] ; Nahuatl: PopÅcatepÄ"tl /popoËkaˈtepeËt͡ɬ/) is an active volcano, located in the states of Puebla, Mexico, and Morelos, in Central Mexico, and lies in the eastern half of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt. At 5,426 m (17,802 ft) it is the second highest peak in Mexico, after the Pico de Orizaba at 5,636 m (18,491 ft).
It is linked to the Iztaccihuatl volcano to the north by the high saddle known as the Paso de Cortés.
Popocatépetl is 70 km (43 mi) southeast of Mexico City, from where it can be seen regularly, depending on atmospheric conditions. Until recently, the volcano was one of three tall peaks in Mexico to contain glaciers, the others being Iztaccihuatl and Pico de Orizaba. In the 1990s, the glaciers such as Glaciar Norte (North Glacier) greatly decreased in size, partly due to warmer temperatures but largely due to increased volcanic activity. By early 2001, Popocatépetl's glaciers were gone; ice remained on the volcano, but no longer displayed the characteristic features of glaciers such as crevasses.
Magma erupting from Popocatépetl has historically been predominantly andesitic, but it has also erupted large volumes of dacite. Magma produced in the current cycle of activity tends to be a mixture of the two.
Toponymy
The name Popocatépetl comes from the Nahuatl words popÅca /poˈpoËka/ 'it smokes' and tepÄ"tl /ˈtepeËt͡ɬ/ 'mountain', meaning Smoking Mountain. The volcano is also referred to by Mexicans as El Popo. The alternate nickname Don Goyo comes from the mountain's association in the lore of the region with San Gregorio (St. Gregory), "Goyo" being a nickname-like short form of Gregorio.
Geology
The stratovolcano contains a steep-walled, 400 m × 600 m (1,300 ft × 2,000 ft) wide crater. The generally symmetrical volcano is modified by the sharp-peaked Ventorrillo on the NW, a remnant of an earlier volcano. At least three previous major cones were destroyed by gravitational failure during the Pleistocene, producing massive debris avalanche deposits covering broad areas south of the volcano. The modern volcano was constructed to the south of the late-Pleistocene to Holocene El Fraile cone. Three major plinian eruptions, the most recent of which took place about 800 AD, have occurred from Popocatépetl since the mid Holocene, accompanied by pyroclastic flows and voluminous lahars that swept basins below the volcano.
According to paleomagnetic studies, the volcano is about 730,000 years old. The elevation at the peak is 5,450 m (17,880 ft). The volcano is cone shaped with a diameter of 25 km (16 mi) at its base. The crater is elliptical with an orientation northeast-southwest. The walls of the crater vary from 600 to 840 m (1,970 to 2,760 ft) in height. Popocatépetl is currently active after being dormant for about half of last century. In 1991 the volcano's activity increased and since 1993 smoke can be seen constantly emanating from the crater.
Eruptions
Popocatépetl is the most active volcano in Mexico, having had more than 15 major eruptions since the arrival of the Spanish in 1519. A major eruption occurred in 1947.
On December 21, 1994, the volcano spewed gas and ash which was carried as far as 25Â km (16Â mi) away by prevailing winds. The activity prompted the evacuation of nearby towns and scientists to begin monitoring for an eruption.
In December 2000, tens of thousands of people were evacuated by the government based on the warnings of scientists. The volcano then made its largest display in 1,200 years.
On December 25, 2005, the volcano's crater produced an explosion which ejected a large column of smoke and ash about 3Â km (1.9Â mi) into the atmosphere and expulsion of lava.
In January and February 2012, scientists have been noticing Popocatépetl's action increasing. On January 25, 2012, an ash explosion occurred on the mountain causing much dust and ash to contaminate the atmosphere around it.
On April 19, 2012 there were reports of superheated rock fragments being hurled into the air by the volcano. Ash and water vapor plumes were reported 15 times over 24 hours.
On Wednesday May 8, 2013 at 7:28 pm local time, Popocatépetl erupted again with a high amplitude tremor that lasted and was recorded for 3.5 hours. It began with plumes of ash that rose 3 km into the air and began drifting W at first, but later began to drift ESE covering areas of the villages of San Juan Tianguismanalco, San Pedro Benito Juárez and the City of Puebla in smoke and ash. Explosions from the volcano itself subsequently ejected fragments of fiery volcanic rock to distances of 700 m from the crater.
On July 4, 2013, due to several eruptions of steam and ash for at least 24 hours, at least six U.S. airlines canceled more than 40 flights into and out of Mexico City and Toluca airports that day.
During 27 August-September 2014, CENAPRED reported explosions accompanied by steam-and-gas emissions with minor ash and ash plumes that rose 800-3,000 m above Popocatépetl’s crater and drifted W, SW, and WSW. On most nights incandescence was observed, increasing during times with larger emissions. On 1 September partial visibility due to cloud cover was reported. On 29 and 31 August the Washington VAAC reported discrete ash emissions.
On January 7 2015, CENAPRED Reported that ash from recent explosions coats the snow on the volcano's upper slopes.
History
The first Spanish ascent of the volcano was made by an expedition led by Diego de Ordaz in 1519. The early 16th-century monasteries on the slopes of the mountain are a World Heritage Site.
There is also a story behind the two mountains of Popocatépetl and IztaccÃhuatl. It states that the two mountains were once lovers set there to rest forever. IztaccÃhuatl, being a beautiful young princess, fell in love with a warrior named Popocatépetl. They loved each other very much until the young warrior was sent to battle. After the war was won, it was reported back to the princess that Popocatépetl was dead. She starved and neglected herself due to her sadness for the loss of her love, then one day she passed out, no one could wake her up. The warrior returned from the battle (obviously not dead) to see his love sleeping, he could not wake her up. He then picked her up and started on a journey to beg the gods for her to wake up. When he finally met a large mountain, the gods answered him. They made Popocatépetl and IztaccÃhuatl into mountains so they could live forever with each other. The mountain Popocatépetl represents a man kneeling down weeping next to the mountain IztaccÃhuatl which represents a woman lying down sleeping.
Picture gallery
See also
- The legend of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl
- List of volcanoes in Mexico
- 4000 meter peaks of México
- List of Ultras of Mexico
- Mountain peaks of México
References
Further reading
- Secor, R. J. (2008). Mexico's Volcanoes: A Climbing Guide (3rd ed.). Mountaineers Books. pp. 160ff. ISBN 0-89886-798-3.Â
- "Popocatépetl". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2008-12-18.Â
- Yarza de la Torre, Esperanza (1971). Volcanes de México (in Spanish). Aguilar. pp. 237ff.Â
External links
- National Geographic News
- Live webcam of Popocatepetl
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