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Active Volcanoes in Mexico as Tourist Destinations 125

Mexico is currently 8th on the United Nations covers much of west central Mexico and began as
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) list of a fissure in a cornfield on 20 February 1943. Local
major tourism markets, with some 22 million farmers all witnessed the initial eruption of ash
visitor arrivals every year and a corresponding level and stones first-hand as they ploughed their fields.
of domestic tourism (UNWTO, Tourism Barometer, The volcano grew quickly during its first year,
2009). Several major volcanoes within the country while it was still in the explosive pyroclastic phase.
are well-known outside it (Popocatépetl, Colima, The nearby villages of Paricutín (after which the
Parícutin), but nevertheless it does not appear that volcano was named) and San Juan Parangaricutiro
volcano tourism is particularly important to Mexico were both buried in lava and ash; the residents
(it is not possible to obtain accurate statistics so relocated to vacant land nearby. In 1952 the
comments are at best speculative), although this eruption ended and Parícutin went quiet, having
may change in the near future (see below). gained a final height of 424m above the cornfield
and a total elevation of 3170m above sea level. The
Geophysical aspects and volcano has been quiet since, and like most cinder
history of activity cones it is a monogenetic volcano, which means
that it will never erupt again (Siebert et al, 2003).
The major volcanoes potentially of interest to El Chichón is located in north-western Chiapas
tourists and their most recent activity are given in State. Its only recorded eruptive activity was between
Table CS9.1. Perhaps the most famous, Popocatépetl 29 March and 4 April 1982, when it produced a
last erupted in 2006, while the 200,000 residents 1km wide caldera that then filled with an acidic
of the City of Colima are at present threatened by crater lake (Robock, 2002). The eruption killed
the 2009 eruption of the Colima volcano. Parícutin 2000 people who lived near the volcano. El
is a cinder cone volcano in the State of Michoacán, Chichón is part of a geologic zone known as the
close to a lava-covered village of the same name. Chiapanecan Volcanic Arc, thought to be the result
It appears in many versions of the Seven Natural of the subduction of the Tehuantepec Ridge, an
Wonders of the World (CNN, 1997). It is part of undersea ridge which lies on the Cocos Plate off the
the Michoacán–Guanajuato Volcanic Field, which Pacific coast of Mexico (Manea and Manea, 2005).

Table CS9.1 Major volcanoes of Mexico

Volcano Type Elevation (metres) Last eruption
Parícutin Cinder cone 3170 1952
El Chichon Lava dome 1060 1982
Colima Stratovolcano 4330 2009
Pico de Orizaba Stratovolcano 5700 1687

Ceboruco 2280 1885
Jorullo/Michacan-Guanajuato Cinder cone field 3860 1952
Popocatépetl Stratovolcano 5426 2006
San Martin Tuxtla Shield 1650 1796

Socorro/Barcena Shield 1050 1993
Tacana Stratovolcano 4060 1986
Tres Virgenes 1940 1857
Source: Siebert et al, 2003

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