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Pico de Orizaba

Mexico's Highest Peak and North America's Tallest Volcano

Elevation

5,564 m

Last Eruption

1846

Type

Stratovolcano

Country

Mexico

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate
Infrastructure RiskModerate
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity180 years agoHistoricalHistorically active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Normal
No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All Mexico Volcanoes
Explore by country
Stratovolcano Volcanoes
By volcano type
Veracruz / Puebla border
Regional volcanoes

Other Volcanoes in Mexico

Interesting Facts

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Pico de Orizaba is the highest peak in Mexico at 5,564 m (18,255 ft) and the third-highest in North America, after Denali (6,190 m) and Mount Logan (5,959 m).

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The volcano is North America's tallest volcano, surpassing Mount Rainier (4,392 m) by over 1,100 meters.

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Its Nahuatl name Citlaltépetl means 'Star Mountain,' likely referencing the gleaming snow-capped summit visible from the Gulf of Mexico.

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The summit rises 4,400 m above the Gulf coastal plain to the east — one of the greatest base-to-summit elevation gains of any mountain on Earth.

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Pico de Orizaba hosts the Gran Glaciar Norte, one of the southernmost glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere, though it is rapidly retreating due to climate change.

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A VEI 5 eruption around 6710 BCE was comparable in power to the 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius or the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.

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The volcano was built in three constructional stages, with catastrophic sector collapses between phases producing massive debris avalanche deposits.

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Spanish conquistadors used the snow-capped peak as a navigation landmark when approaching the port of Veracruz from the Gulf of Mexico.

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Pico de Orizaba National Park, established in 1937, protects the volcano and its surrounding ecosystems spanning from tropical forests to alpine glaciers.

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The summit crater is approximately 500 m wide and partially filled with glacial ice, though ice volume has declined dramatically in recent decades.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pico de Orizaba an active volcano?
Yes, Pico de Orizaba is classified as an active volcano by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. It last erupted in 1846, producing a moderate explosive event rated VEI 2. While the volcano is currently dormant, fumarolic activity near the summit indicates an active magmatic system at depth. Scientists do not consider it extinct. The volcano has demonstrated capacity for very large eruptions — including a VEI 5 event around 6710 BCE — and its current 180-year dormancy period is within the range of historical inter-eruption intervals.
How tall is Pico de Orizaba?
Pico de Orizaba rises to 5,564 m (18,255 ft) above sea level, making it Mexico's highest peak, the third-highest mountain in North America (after Denali at 6,190 m and Mount Logan at 5,959 m), and the highest volcano on the North American continent. Its eastern base sits at approximately 1,200 m elevation, meaning the cone rises over 4,300 m above the Gulf coastal plain — one of the most dramatic elevation profiles of any mountain on Earth.
Can you climb Pico de Orizaba?
Yes, Pico de Orizaba is one of Mexico's most popular high-altitude mountaineering objectives. The standard Glaciar de Jamapa route on the south side requires technical glacier travel with crampons and ice axes above approximately 4,900 m. Most climbers stage from the Piedra Grande hut at around 4,270 m. The optimal climbing season runs from October through March. The peak demands serious fitness, proper acclimatization, and experience with high-altitude conditions, as summit altitude exceeds 5,500 m. The mountain lies within Pico de Orizaba National Park.
Does Pico de Orizaba have glaciers?
Yes, Pico de Orizaba hosts glaciers on its summit, most notably the Gran Glaciar Norte on the northern flank. These are among the southernmost glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere, located at approximately 19°N latitude. However, the glaciers have been retreating dramatically due to climate change, losing significant volume over the past century. Scientists project that without climate intervention, Pico de Orizaba's glaciers could disappear within decades, following the fate of glaciers that once existed on neighboring peaks.
What does Citlaltépetl mean?
Citlaltépetl is the Nahuatl (Aztec language) name for Pico de Orizaba. It translates to 'Star Mountain,' composed of 'citlalli' (star) and 'tepetl' (mountain). The name likely references the volcano's gleaming snow-capped summit, which is visible from great distances including the Gulf of Mexico, where it appears to glow like a star on the horizon. The mountain held sacred significance in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cosmology.
When did Pico de Orizaba last erupt?
Pico de Orizaba's most recent confirmed eruption occurred in 1846, producing moderate explosive activity rated VEI 2 with ash emissions from the summit crater. Before that, eruptions occurred in 1687 (VEI 2) and 1613 (VEI 0). The current dormancy period of nearly 180 years is relatively long but not unprecedented in the volcano's history, which includes gaps of several centuries between eruptive phases. The volcano is monitored by CENAPRED and is not considered extinct.