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Photo: Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano erupts

Photo: Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano erupts

Photo: Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano erupts
mongabay.com
December 3, 2007



Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano erupted several times on Saturday, December 1, ejecting steam and ash, according to Mexico’s National Disaster Prevention Center (CENAPRED).

The first eruption occurred at 6:20 a.m. local time (1220 GMT) and a total of six eruptions took place in 24 hours.

According to local media, ash rained down in Mexico City, located some 70 km northwest of the volano.




Photo courtesy of Mexico’s National Disaster Prevention Center (CENAPRED),

At 5,452 meters above sea level, Popocatépetl is Mexico’s second highest mountain. In recent years the volcano has been more active during the month of December.



The name Popocatépetl comes from the Nahuatl words popoca ‘it smokes’ and tepetl ‘mountain’, meaning “Smoking Mountain”, according to Wikipedia.




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