At a height of 18,491 ft (5,636 m), Pico De Orizaba is not only the highest mountain in Mexico but also the third highest mountain in entire North America.Pico de Orizaba is in fact a stratovolcano but has been a dormant volcano for a couple of centuries now; this fact also makes it the highest volcano mountain in the continent of North America. The only two mountains in North America which are taller than Pico de Orizaba are Denali in the US and Mt Logan in Canada.In the local Aztecan language, the mountain is also known by the name of ‘Citlaltépetl’ which translates into ’the star mountain’. The supposed reason behind this name is that the snow-covered mountain could be seen year-round and from distances of around 62 mi (100 km). The mountain is located in the state of Veracruz, exactly on the border of the states of Veracruz and Puebla. Other than Pico de Orizaba, the next highest peaks in Mexico are Popocatépetl, Iztaccíhuatl and Nevado de Toluca. Interestingly, all these mountains including the Pico de Orizaba are a part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Climbers take great interest in the ascent of this mountain as it is the highest mountain in Mexico but also because studies have shown that since 2019, due to high temperatures the glacier at the top of the mountain is melting, leading to a gradual reduction in the mountain’s height. Some people are often curious if this mountain can be seen from Mexico City? Well, Mexico City is at a distance of more than 186 mi (300 km) and it is thus not possible to see the Pico de Orizaba from there.If you enjoy this article, why not also read about the tallest mountain on the East Coast and the tallest mountain in Colorado here on Kidadl?Fun Facts About Mexico’s Tallest MountainPico de Orizaba, the tallest mountain in Mexico and also the tallest mountain in the world from 10-20 degrees North latitude. Let us look at some more interesting fun facts about this volcano mountain, also the highest of its kind in entire North America.The mountain is a part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt which stretches for around 621 mi (1000 km) from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean going across Central Mexico and Southern Mexico. The coordinates of Pico de Orizaba are 19.029959 N / -97.269527 W. Climbing this mountain has been a fad for people all over the world. The earliest ever recorded ascent was in 1848 by two US soldiers named F Maynard and William F Raynolds. Although it is very certain that the locals had climbed this dormant volcano before 1848, they did not have their ascent registered in any official documents. Ships approaching the Gulf of Mexico can look at the peak of this mountain on a clear day. Owing to the high altitudes of this mountain, it is also home to the largest glacier in the country of Mexico known as Gran Glacier Norte. Moreover, when it comes to the list of the most prominent volcanic peaks in the world, the Pico de Orizaba is only second to Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.Geographical Facts About Pico de OrizabaTalking about the geographical phenomenon of this mountain, let us first look at the location of Pico de Orizaba. Pico de Orizaba, the highest peak in Mexico is located 120 mi (193 km) to the east of Mexico City and about 68 mi (109 km) west of the Gulf of Mexico.The Tropic of Cancer passes through this North American country but not through the Orizaba mountains. These mountains are located around 300 mi (483 km) south of the Tropic of Cancer. Jamapa River, the 19th longest river of Mexico originates from the glaciers present in these mountains. The states of Puebla and Veracruz largely depend upon this river for their water supply. The volcano mountain of Pico de Orizaba at an elevation of 18,491 ft (5,636 m) is home to nine glaciers, and the majority of them are present on the northern side of the volcano mountain as it receives relatively lesser sunlight than its southern counterpart. It was earlier noted that the thickness of the largest glacier was around 160 ft (49 m) but climbers have reported a gradual deterioration, and the most probable cause is global warming.Facts About Climbing Pico De OrizabaClimbing this mountain of an elevation of 18,491 ft (5,636 m) might seem like a very difficult task but it is regarded as fairly simple to climb with intermediate-level skills in climbing being sufficient. Interestingly, the Pico de Orizaba is one of the most diverse mountains of Mexico when it comes to its terrain.The climb can be divided into three stages: the first one being the scree part, then the labyrinth or the rocky part, and ultimately that part of the mountain where the Jamapa glacier is present. The glacier is the final ascent in order to climb this mountain. From this point, one can view stunning sunsets and look over the vast surrounding landmass. As you reach the glaciers present on this mountain, you will also reach the summit of the mountain. Although the path towards the summit of the highest peak of Mexico isn’t the most difficult of all, one must still have some prior experience of climbing a mountain and good knowledge about ice ax and crampons.Additionally, one must be in good health condition as at an altitude of 18,491 ft (5,636 m), it is very common to experience shortness of breath and other common health issues. There are multiple routes via which one can begin their climb to the summit of the Pico de Orizaba. Moreover, the months of October or November to March are regarded as the best time to climb the mountain as it is not raining and the temperatures are fairly good. The southern side of the mountain has hardly any glaciers and the trail is also shorter on that side but the climb is very steep and much more difficult in comparison to the alternative route.Facts About Pico De Orizaba’s Last EruptionDormant volcanoes such as Mount Kilimanjaro and Pico De Orizaba are known as stratovolcanoes which have developed over a long period of time after the accumulation of many layers of lava and tephra. These volcanoes do not erupt a lot, in fact, Mount Kilimanjaro hasn’t erupted for more than 100,000 years.Pico De Orizaba, although not considered an extinct volcano, its chances of erupting are really low. The last time it erupted was way back in the 19th century. As of now, the mountain volcano is considered dormant. The last eruption which took place in 1846 was measured on Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) and had been marked 2. Prior to 1846, the eruptions took place in 1687, 1613, 1589-1569, 1566 and on multiple occasions before that as well.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for facts about the tallest mountain in Mexico, then why not take a look at the tallest mountain from base to peak or the tallest mountain range?
At a height of 18,491 ft (5,636 m), Pico De Orizaba is not only the highest mountain in Mexico but also the third highest mountain in entire North America.
