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Popocatépetl

The Most Dangerous Volcano in the Americas

Elevation

5,393 m

Last Eruption

2025 (ongoing since 2005)

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 RiskHigh
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 Activity-20249979 years agoVery RecentCurrently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Active
Recent volcanic activity detected. Continuous monitoring in place.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

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🇻🇪 Jose G. Ortega Castro 🇲🇽

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Interesting Facts

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Approximately 25 million people live within 100 km of Popocatépetl's summit, making it arguably the most population-exposed active volcano on Earth.

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The volcano's name in Nahuatl, Popocatépetl ('Smoking Mountain'), has been descriptively accurate for at least 700 years — the summit has been continuously fuming since Pre-Columbian times.

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Popocatépetl has produced at least two VEI 5 Plinian eruptions in the Holocene (~3700 BCE and ~200 BCE), demonstrating it is capable of events comparable to the 79 CE destruction of Pompeii by Vesuvius.

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The volcano was actively erupting during the Spanish Conquest of Mexico in 1519–1521 — Hernán Cortés dispatched an expedition led by Diego de Ordaz to attempt to climb it.

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At 5,393 m (17,694 ft), Popocatépetl is North America's second-highest volcano and the second-tallest peak in Mexico, after Pico de Orizaba.

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The current eruptive phase began in December 1994 after 67 years of dormancy, and the volcano has been in a state of continuous dome-building and intermittent explosive activity ever since.

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In December 2000, approximately 41,000 people were evacuated from communities near the volcano when explosive activity intensified and the first pyroclastic flows of the current phase were observed.

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Popocatépetl's glaciers have lost approximately 45% of their area between 1958 and 2020, driven by both climate warming and volcanic heating — but sufficient ice remains to generate dangerous lahars.

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Fourteen early 16th-century monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl are inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by Franciscan, Dominican, and Augustinian missionaries shortly after the Conquest.

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The volcano is affectionately known in Mexico as 'Don Goyo,' after a folk legend of an elderly peasant farmer named Gregorio who embodies the volcano's spirit and appears before major eruptions.

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In May 2023, a major eruptive intensification produced ash columns exceeding 10 km altitude, forced closure of airports in Mexico City and Puebla, and deposited ash on both cities.

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Popocatépetl and neighboring Iztaccíhuatl are immortalized in Aztec legend as star-crossed lovers — a warrior (the smoking volcano) standing eternal vigil over his sleeping princess (the reclining peak).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Popocatépetl erupting right now?
Yes, Popocatépetl has been in a state of continuous eruptive activity since its reawakening in December 1994. The current eruptive phase, officially catalogued as beginning in January 2005, involves ongoing lava dome growth within the summit crater, periodic Vulcanian explosions that destroy the dome and send ash columns 5–10 km above the crater, and continuous gas and steam emissions. As of early 2026, CENAPRED (Mexico's disaster prevention agency) maintains the volcanic alert at Yellow Phase 2 or 3, indicating ongoing activity with potential for escalation. A 12 km exclusion zone surrounds the summit, and the volcano produces multiple minor explosions daily.
How dangerous is Popocatépetl?
Popocatépetl is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, primarily due to its extraordinary population exposure. Approximately 25 million people live within 100 km of the summit, including parts of the Mexico City metropolitan area (population ~22 million) and the entire Puebla metro area (~3.2 million). The volcano has produced VEI 5 Plinian eruptions in its geological past, and its current activity demonstrates it remains fully capable of explosive eruptions. The primary threats are lahars (volcanic mudflows descending glacier-fed valleys into populated areas), pyroclastic flows, and widespread ashfall. CENAPRED maintains active evacuation plans for communities within 15, 25, and 35 km hazard zones.
How tall is Popocatépetl?
Popocatépetl stands at 5,393 m (17,694 ft) above sea level, making it the second-highest peak in Mexico after Pico de Orizaba (5,636 m / 18,491 ft) and the second-highest volcano in North America. Its summit rises approximately 2,900 m (9,500 ft) above the surrounding plateau, creating an imposing visual presence visible from both Mexico City (70 km northwest) and Puebla (43 km east) on clear days. The summit hosts a steep-walled crater measuring approximately 400 × 600 m that contains an actively growing lava dome.
What does Popocatépetl mean?
Popocatépetl is a Nahuatl word meaning 'Smoking Mountain.' It is composed of two Nahuatl roots: popōca ('it smokes' or 'smoking') and tepētl ('mountain'). The name accurately describes the volcano's persistent fumarolic and eruptive activity, which has been continuously observed since Pre-Columbian times and was recorded in Aztec codices from the 14th century onward. Nahuatl, the language of the Aztec Empire, is still spoken by approximately 1.7 million people in central Mexico. The volcano is also widely known by its affectionate Mexican nickname 'Don Goyo.'
Could Popocatépetl destroy Mexico City?
A large eruption of Popocatépetl would not 'destroy' Mexico City in the sense of a pyroclastic flow reaching the capital — the city lies 70 km from the summit, beyond the typical reach of even major pyroclastic flows. However, a VEI 4–5 Plinian eruption could devastate Mexico City through ashfall. Centimeters to decimeters of volcanic ash deposited on the metropolitan area would collapse roofs, contaminate water supplies, shut down transportation and aviation, damage electronics and machinery, and cause severe respiratory health effects for 22 million residents. Lahars would devastate communities closer to the volcano. Such an event would be one of the most consequential natural disasters in modern history.
When did Popocatépetl last have a major eruption?
The most recent major Plinian eruption of Popocatépetl occurred around 800 CE (VEI 4), producing extensive pyroclastic flows and lahars that swept surrounding basins. The most powerful known eruptions occurred around 3700 BCE and 200 BCE, both rated VEI 5. In the modern era, the most significant eruptive episodes were: December 2000, when explosive activity generated the first pyroclastic flows of the current cycle and forced evacuation of 41,000 people; and May 2023, when ash columns exceeded 10 km altitude and ashfall reached Mexico City. The current eruptive phase (since 1994) has not yet produced a Plinian eruption but demonstrates the volcano is fully active.
Can you climb Popocatépetl?
No, climbing Popocatépetl is prohibited due to ongoing volcanic activity. A permanent 12 km exclusion zone enforced by CENAPRED surrounds the summit, and access to the upper slopes is restricted. Prior to the volcano's reawakening in 1994, the summit was a popular mountaineering objective — one of the few walk-up peaks above 5,000 m in the world. The neighboring extinct volcano Iztaccíhuatl (5,230 m), connected to Popocatépetl by the Paso de Cortés, remains open for mountaineering and offers dramatic views of Popocatépetl's smoking summit. The national park surrounding both volcanoes is accessible for hiking at lower elevations.
How many people live near Popocatépetl?
Approximately 1 million people live within 30 km of Popocatépetl's summit, including dozens of small towns and villages on the volcano's lower flanks. Within a 100 km radius, approximately 25 million people are exposed to potential volcanic hazards — this figure includes portions of the Mexico City metropolitan area (population ~22 million) to the northwest and the entire Puebla metropolitan area (~3.2 million) to the east. The nearest significant town, Santiago Xalitzintla (population ~2,700), lies just 12 km from the summit crater. This extraordinary population exposure is what makes Popocatépetl one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world.
What is the legend of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl?
In the most famous version of the Aztec legend, Popocatépetl was a great warrior who fell in love with Iztaccíhuatl, the beautiful daughter of a tribal chief. The chief agreed to their marriage on the condition that Popocatépetl first prove himself in battle. While he was away fighting, a rival falsely reported that Popocatépetl had been killed. Iztaccíhuatl, overwhelmed with grief, died of a broken heart. When Popocatépetl returned victorious, he carried her body to the mountains, where the gods transformed the lovers into twin volcanoes — Iztaccíhuatl lying in eternal sleep (her reclining profile is visible in the mountain's ridgeline), and Popocatépetl standing vigil beside her, his smoking summit a sign of his undying grief.
Why is Popocatépetl called Don Goyo?
Popocatépetl is affectionately called 'Don Goyo' in Mexican popular culture, after a widespread folk legend in communities near the volcano. According to local tradition, the spirit of the volcano manifests as an elderly peasant farmer named Gregorio ('Goyo' is the common nickname for Gregorio). Don Goyo is said to appear to villagers in the days before major eruptions to warn them to evacuate. Many residents of communities like Santiago Xalitzintla maintain a tradition of offering food, drink, and flowers to Don Goyo on his 'birthday' (March 12) as a way of paying respect to the volcano and requesting protection. The tradition blends Pre-Columbian and Catholic beliefs.