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Iztaccíhuatl volcano

Updated: May 30, 2023 06:03 GMT -
stratovolcano 5230 m / 17,159 ft
Central Mexico, 19.18°N / -98.64°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 25 Oct 2019 (possible small gas eruption on 22 Oct)
Iztaccihuatl volcano as seen from the Sacromonte mountain in Amecameca, Mexico State (image: Wikimedia Commons, AlejandroLinaresGarcia)
Iztaccihuatl volcano as seen from the Sacromonte mountain in Amecameca, Mexico State (image: Wikimedia Commons, AlejandroLinaresGarcia)

Iztaccíhuatl volcano (also spelled Ixtaccíhuatl) is a massive andesitic stratovolcano next to the famous neighbor Popocatépetl volcano. It is the 3rd highest mountain of Mexico.
Iztaccíhuatl has the profile of a sleeping woman when seen from the Valley of Mexico, which gave it its name meaning "Woman in White", referring also to the Ayoloco glacier covering its summit. Geologically, it is the predecessor volcano of Popocatépetl and now in its final stages of infrequent activity, with some activity sometime less than 11,000 years ago.

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Typical eruption style: effusive
Iztaccíhuatl volcano eruptions: unknown, less than 11,000 years ago

Latest nearby earthquakes

TimeMag. / DepthDistance/Location
Monday, May 22, 2023 GMT (3 quakes)
May 22, 2023 2:45 am (GMT -6) (May 22, 2023 08:45 GMT)
1.8

8.4 km
43 km (27 mi)
2.5 km south of Texcoco, Mexico
May 22, 2023 2:30 am (GMT -6) (May 22, 2023 08:30 GMT)
2.1

8.4 km
43 km (27 mi)
2.5 km south of Texcoco, Mexico
May 22, 2023 2:19 am (GMT -6) (May 22, 2023 08:19 GMT)
1.7

8.4 km
43 km (27 mi)
Mexico: 1 Km Al SURESTE De TEXCOCO DE MORA, MEX
Friday, May 19, 2023 GMT (1 quake)
May 19, 2023 3:27 am (GMT -6) (May 19, 2023 09:27 GMT)
2.5

3.7 km
18 km (11 mi)
24 km northwest of Atlixco, Puebla, Mexico

Background

A series of overlapping cones constructed along a NNW-SSE line to the south of the Pleistocene Llano Grande caldera forms the summit ridge of the massive 450 cu km volcano. Andesitic and dacitic Pleistocene and Recent volcanism has taken place from vents at or near the summit of Volcán Iztaccíhuatl. Valley headwalls near the summit vent (El Pecho) are draped with flows and tuff beds post-dating an 11,000 years before present glaciation. The youngest vents are located at the summit and a depression at 5100 m along the summit ridge midway between El Pecho and Los Pies (White 1986). Nixon (1989) considered all summit lavas to be Pleistocene in age, but noted a postglacial dacitic vent on the south flank of Iztaccíhuatl, north of the saddle between it and Popocatépetl.
(Source: GVP / Smithsonian volcano information)

Iztaccíhuatl Photos




See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS
Fri, 25 Oct 2019, 09:50

Iztaccihuatl volcano (Mexico): possible gas eruption on 22 Oct

Possible gas eruption at Iztaccíhuatl volcano on 22 Oct (image: IIGEA)
A possible gas eruption took place at the volcano on 22 Oct: ... Read all
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