Popocatépetl Volcano Uncovered

Popocatépetl is Mexico’s second highest active volcano.

Popocatépetl is a stratovolcano in central Mexico states.

Popocatépetl lies in the eastern part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

Iztaccihuatl volcano lies north and is linked by Paso de Cortés saddle.

Popocatépetl’s glaciers vanished by early 2001 from eruptions and heat.

Lava eruptions mostly contain magnesium-rich andesite and some dacite magma.

Popocatépetl means Smoking Mountain in the Nahuatl language.

Locals call Popocatépetl 'Don Goyo' after the volcano’s spirit Gregorio.

The volcano’s crater is steep and measures about 400 by 600 meters.

Popocatépetl formed roughly 730,000 years ago by volcano succession.

A massive lateral eruption 23,000 years ago caused a giant avalanche.

Diego de Ordaz led the first European ascent of Popocatépetl in 1519.

Popocatépetl erupted more than 15 times since Spanish arrival in 1519.

Eruptions often send ash and lava rock kilometers into the air.

Popocatépetl remains a powerful smoking mountain under constant monitoring.