Iztaccihuatl

Iztaccíhuatl
Iztaccíhuatl from Amecameca, estado de Mexico
Elevation	5,230 m (17,159 ft)
Prominence	1,560 m (5,118 ft)
Listing	Ultra
Location
Iztaccíhuatl México and Puebla, Mexico
Coordinates	19°10′44″N 98°38′30″W
Geology
Volcanic arc/belt	Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt
Last eruption	Holocene
Climbing
First ascent	1889 by James de Salis
Easiest route	rock/snow climb

Iztaccíhuatl (alternative spellings include Ixtaccíhuatl, or either variant spelled without the accent) (Nahuatl pronunciation: [istakˈsiwatɬ] or, as spelled with the x, [iʃtakˈsiwatɬ]), is the third highest mountain in Mexico, after the Pico de Orizaba, 5,636 m (18,491 ft), and Popocatépetl, 5,426 m (17,802 ft). Its name is Nahuatl for "White woman".

The mountain has four peaks, the highest of which is 5,230 m (17,160 ft) above sea level. Together, the peaks are seen as depicting the head, chest, knees and feet of a sleeping female figure, which is visible from either the east or the west. Iztaccíhuatl is a mere 70 km (43 mi) to the southeast of Mexico City and is often visible from the capital, depending on atmospheric conditions.

While the first recorded ascent was made in 1889, archaeological evidence suggests that the Aztecs and previous cultures also climbed the mountain.

This is the lowest peak that contains permanent snow and glaciers in Mexico. Its glaciers are the most poleward tropical glaciers in the world and the closest glaciers to either the Tropic of Cancer or Tropic of Capricorn.

Iztaccíhuatl lies to the north of Popocatépetl, and is connected to it by the high pass called the Paso de Cortés.

Geology

The volcano is 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 km³ (110 cu mi) volcano. Andesitic and dacitic Pleistocene and Holocene volcanism has taken place from vents at or near the summit. Areas near the summit vent (El Pecho) are covered in flows and tuff beds post-dating glaciation approximately 11 ka (thousand years ago). The most recent vents are located at the summit and a depression at 5,100 m (16,700 ft) along the summit ridge midway between El Pecho and Los Pies.

The Legend of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl

In Aztec mythology, Iztaccíhuatl was a princess who fell in love with Popocatépetl, one of her father's warriors. The emperor sent Popocatépetl to war in Oaxaca, promising him Iztaccíhuatl as his wife when he would return (which Iztaccíhuatl's father presumed he would not). Iztaccíhuatl was falsely told Popocatépetl had died in battle, and believing the news, she died of grief. When Popocatépetl returned to find his love dead, he took her body to a spot outside Tenochtitlan and kneeled by her grave. The gods covered them with snow and changed them into mountains. Iztaccíhuatl's mountain is called "White Woman" (from the nahuatl iztac "white" and cihuatl "woman") because it resembles a woman sleeping on her back, and is often covered with snow. (The peak is sometimes nicknamed La Mujer Dormida ("The Sleeping Woman").) He became the volcano Popocatépetl, raining fire on Earth in blind rage at the loss of his beloved.

Elevation

This is usually quoted at 5,286 m (17,343 ft) but SRTM and Mexican national survey mapping agree that 5,220 to 5,230 m (17,130 to 17,160 ft) is more accurate. The Global Volcanism Program lists it at 5,230 m (17,160 ft).

Gallery

• 

  Ixtaccíhuatl from the Puebla side

• 

  Location of Ixtaccíhuatl

• 

  Volcanos view from Polanco District. Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl (from left to right).

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  Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl

• 

  Mexico Iztaccihuatl mountain climb to the summit

See also

• 4000 meter peaks of México
• 4000 meter peaks of North America
• List of volcanoes in Mexico
• Mountain peaks of México
• Mountain peaks of North America

External links

Descriptions

• Iztaccíhuatl - Volcano World
• Iztaccíhuatl - Ski Mountaineer
• Iztaccíhuatl - Peakware World Mountain Encyclopedia

Maps

• Iztaccíhuatl - Google Map
• Iztaccíhuatl - Yahoo Map
• Iztaccíhuatl - MSN Map
• Iztaccíhuatl - National Geographic

Other

• Iztaccíhuatl - Stamps
• Legend of The Sleeping Lady and Smoking Mountain