Popocatepetl

Hellas — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:43:41 +0000

Popocatepetl is the second highest mountain in Mexico with height of 5426 m. It is also an active volcano. Popocatepetl is located 70 km southeast of Mexico City. Popocatepetl is visible from Mexico City if the days are bright. It is the one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico with over 20 eruptions in last 500 years. In December 2000 volcano had the largest eruption in last 1000 years, but people from dangerous zone are succesufuly evacuated. Also only 40 km far from Popocateptl is placed the city of Puebla with almost 1,3 million inhabitants. The volcano is visible from there almost every day showing its magnificent snow covered glaciers. Popocatepetl was tied up with Iztaccuihuatl by the high saddle known as Paso De Cortes. He get his name from the Nahuatl words “popoca” which means “it smokes” and “tepetl” which means mountain. According to Aztec mythologies Popocateptl was warrior who loved Iztaccihuatl. Her father sent him to war, promising him her hand when he comes back. After that he told his daughter that her beloved died in battle, after which she died of grief. When Popocatepetl returned from war he found that Iztaccihuatl is dead and commited suicide by stabbing his dagger through his heart. Gods then covered them with snow and turned them in to volcano mountains that rain the fire on Earth because of the blind rage. In Mexico there are plenty of legend about Popocatepetl.

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Popocatepetl