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One of the most famous volcanoes around the world is Popocatepetl, pronounced “poh-poh-kah-tay-pet-ul,” in central Mexico.

Located along the Mexican border states of Puebla and Mexico, Popocatepetl, or Popo for short, rises 17,887 feet, almost 3-1/2 miles.

Popo is the second highest mountain after the Orizaba peak in Mexico. It has a symmetrical cone and is forested at the base. 

Popocatépetl comes from the Nahuatl words “popoca” (it smokes) and “tepetl” (mountain), thus Smoking Mountain.

Popo is linked to the Iztaccíhuatl volcano to the north by the high saddle known as the Paso de Cortés. The mountains contain major deposits of silver and copper.

Popo is currently active.

A major eruption occurred in 1947. On Dec. 21, 1994, the volcano spewed gas and ash as far as 25 kilometers away through prevailing winds. The activity prompted the evacuation of nearby towns.

In December 2000, tens of thousands of people were evacuated by the government based on scientists’ warnings of an eruption. The volcano then made its largest display in thousands of years.

One of the first Europeans to ascend Popo was Diego de Ordaz in 1519. Subsequently, the Spanish used the sulfur from the crater to make gun powder. The Spaniards recorded eruptions in the 16th and 17th centuries.

About 30 eruptions have been reported, many resulting in mild-to-moderate volcanic steam and ash emission.

Today, more than 30 million people live within view of the volcano and hundreds of thousands of people would be endangered if a major eruption occurred. Such an eruption could also endanger aircraft at the Mexico City international airport. 

The Legend of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl

In Aztec mythology, Popocatépetl was a warrior who loved Iztaccíhuatl, or Izta for short.

Izta’s father sent Popo to war in Oaxaca, promising that he could wed his daughter if he returned. Izta’s father doubted his return, and at one point, Izta was told her lover was dead . She died of grief. When Popo returned, he died of grief over losing her. The gods covered them with snow and changed them into mountains. Izta’s mountain was called “Sleeping Woman” because it bears a resemblance to a woman lying on her back. He became the volcano Popocatépetl, raining fire on earth in blind rage at the loss of his beloved.

Sources:  Wikipedia.org, Geocities.com and solcomhouse.com

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Today’s Lesson:

1)  Popocatepetl is a volcano located along the Mexican border states of _______ and _____________.

2)  One of the first Europeans to ascend Popocatepetl was ____________ in 1519.

3)  Popocatépetl comes from the Nahuatl words “popoca” and “tepetl,” which means ________________.

4) In Aztec mythology, Popocatépetl was a warrior who loved _____________.

5)  Popo is linked to the Iztaccíhuatl volcano to the north by the high saddle known as ______________.

6)  In Aztec mythology, Iztaccíhuatl was converted into a mountain after her death. Her mountain was called ______________.

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Answers: