Iztaccíhuatl, México

By ExploreNow Editor, on February 26th, 2012

Volcano Type:     Stratovolcano
Volcano Status:   Holocene
Last Known Eruption:    Unknown
Summit Elevation:    5230 m    17,159 feet
Latitude:    19.179°N    19°10’44″N
Longitude:    98.642°W    98°38’30″W

Iztaccíhuatl, the “Woman in White,” presents the profile of a sleeping woman as seen from the Valley of Mexico. 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.

Iztaccíhuatl Volcano (Sarah Leen, nationalgeographic.com)

Iztaccíhuatl, also spelled Ixtaccíhuatl and shortened to Izta or Ixta, means “White Woman” in the Nahuatl language. The name at first glance appears to be a tongue-twister but is easy to learn to pronounce. Pronounce it phonetically, using the International Phonetic Alphabet, as istak siwatɬ. Using my phonetics say, ish-tak-si-wattle. The name of the mountain, along with nearby Popocatépetl, comes from Aztec mythology. Several versions of the myth exist. One of the most popular relates that during the ancient days of the Aztec empire, Iztaccíhuatl was a princess in love with a warrior. Her father sent him off to war, promising the daughter for his wife if he returned. Later Iztaccíhuatl’s father told her that he had been killed in battle. The grief-stricken girl died. When Popo returned and found his love dead, he killed himself. The gods then turned the pair into mountains and blanketed them with snow. She became La Mujer Dormida, The Sleeping Woman, while he became a fiery volcano filled with rage and fury.

Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes

Iztaccíhuatl is Mexico’s third highest mountain after Pico de Orizaba and Popocatépetl and the seventh highest mountain in North America. The Paso de Cortés separates Iztaccihuatl from Popocatépetl, its neighbor to the south. Iztaccíhuatl, in the Cordellera Anahuac, is located 35 miles (55 kilometers) southeast of Mexico City. It is often visible from Mexico City on clear days.