Iztaccíhuatl

Iztaccíhuatl
Iztaccíhuatl from Amecameca
Highest point
Elevation	5,230 m (17,160 ft)
Prominence	1,560 m (5,120 ft)
Listing	North America highest peaks 8th Mexico highest major peaks 3rd Mexico prominent peaks 25th
Coordinates	19°10′44″N 98°38′30″W / 19.17889°N 98.64167°W / 19.17889; -98.64167Coordinates: 19°10′44″N 98°38′30″W / 19.17889°N 98.64167°W / 19.17889; -98.64167
Geography
Iztaccíhuatl Mexico
Location	México and Puebla, Mexico
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) (Spanish pronunciation: [istakˈsiwatɬ] or, as spelled with the x, Nahuatl pronunciation: [iʃtakˈsiwatɬ]), is a 5,230 m (17,160 ft) dormant volcanic mountain in Mexico located on the border between the State of Mexico and Puebla. It is the nation's third highest, after Pico de Orizaba 5,636 m (18,491 ft) and Popocatépetl 5,426 m (17,802 ft).

The name "Iztaccíhuatl" is Nahuatl for "White woman", reflecting the four individual snow-capped peaks which depict the head, chest, knees and feet of a sleeping female when seen from east or west.

Iztaccíhuatl lies to the north of Popocatépetl, to which it is connected by the high altitude Paso de Cortés. Depending on atmospheric conditions the dormant volcano is visible much of the year from Mexico City some 70 km (43 mi) to the northwest.

The first recorded ascent was made in 1889, though archaeological evidence suggests the Aztecs and previous cultures climbed it previously. It is the lowest peak containing permanent snow and glaciers in Mexico.

The summit ridge of the massive 450 km³ (110 cu mi) volcano is a series of overlapping cones constructed along a NNW-SSE line to the south of the Llano Grande caldera. Andesitic and dacitic and Holocene volcanism has taken place from vents at or near the summit. Areas near the El Pecho summit vent are covered in flows and tuff beds post-dating glaciation approximately 11 ka (thousand years ago). The most recent vents are located at El Pecho and a depression at 5,100 m (16,700 ft) along the summit ridge midway between that summit and Los Pies.