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Living by the Volcano
 The second highest peak in the Mexican
territory, at an altitude of 5452 meters above sea level; a volcano which dominates,
together with the Iztacihuatl, the Valley of Mexico; an unmistakable landmark in
the Mexican landscape, celebrated by writers and poets, the Popocatepetl ("the
smoking mountain") has been subject to some unusual volcanic activity during
the past two years. On December 18th. 2000 started it's peak activity erupting burned
material and ashes and significant exhalations of steam and vapors.
 Despite these and other manifestations,
such as the micro-tremors that are felt in the vicinity, the authorities insist that
there is no immediate danger to the local inhabitants.
The last eruption of major proportions occurred thousands of years ago: it is believed
that two major eruptions occurred in the past 40,000 years and before the present
period in 1946.
Thick columns of smoke and steam have issued from the volcano as well as clouds of
ash, sand, and gravel which has rained down on surrounding villages in the states
of Puebla and Veracruz.
Photograph by Marcos Coaya Coatl
Courtesy of
Under the Volcano
See the most recent
view
From the moment its most recent activity
began, the volcano has been subject to intensive monitoring by government and scientific
institutions. In addition, a plan has been drawn up to protect the local population
that is being affected by the eruption.
According to this plan, the area of
greatest danger is located within a radius of 20 kilometers from the crater. The
area of moderate danger extends up to a radius of 40 kilometers from the crater and
includes larger centers of population such as Atlixco and Texmelucan in Puebla; Amecameca
and Ozumba in the State of Mexico, and Tetela in Morelos.
Finally, the zone of least danger encompasses
a radius of 80 kilometers from the crater. Within this zone lie major towns and cities
with populations of over 10,000 inhabitants, such as Tlaxcala, Puebla, Cuautla, Cuernavaca
and Mexico City.
What exactly is the danger? The area
might be affected by gradual or explosive superheated lava or mud flows, flash floods,
and heavy falls of pumice and volcanic ash. Ashes are the major concen in Mexico
City which could cause Air Flights schedules to delay.
Experts have pointed out that there
is less chance that this would have any effect beyond the immediate vicinity of the
volcano. They base this opinion on the fact that the accumulating gases escape naturally
through natural ducts and fumaroles in the volcanoís flanks.
Afther the first eruption, started the
evacuation of the 102,000 inhabitants that live in the 30 settlements closest to
the Popocatepetl.
This new period of volcanic activity
could have any notable effect on Mexico City, and from here we can still observe,
safely, one of the most imposing phenomenons of nature.
Dec 18th, 2000
For more information and photographs:
MTU volcanoes page
UND
volcano
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