An ash plume rises above Popocatépetl, whose Aztec name means "Smoking Mountain." This aerial view is of the NE side of the massive volcano, which towers more than 3,200 m above the Valley of Mexico to the right in this December 1994 photograph. Frequent eruptions have been recorded since the pre-Columbian era. El Ventorrillo, the small peak on the right, is a remnant of the eroded Nexpayantla volcano, a predecessor to the modern cone of Popocatépetl.

Photo courtesy of CENAPRED, Mexico City, 1994.

This image is made available as a Public Domain Work, but proper attribution is appreciated.

Galleries: Ash Plumes and Ashfall

Keywords: eruption | ash | ash plume | plume | explosive eruption | stratovolcano | wind dispersal

Popocatépetl