Posted on 05/18/2013 6:17:49 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Columns of gas and ash 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) high were detected after two strong explosions from the Popocatepetl volcano, Mexico's Cenapred disaster-management agency said Friday.
The first blast came at 10:14 p.m. Thursday, followed by another a little more than two hours later.
The explosions deposited glowing fragments up to 1.5 kilometers from the crater as well as columns of ash and gas that were carried northeastward by the prevailing winds, Cenapred said.
Popocatepetl, which rises 5,452 meters (17,875 feet) above sea level, is located about 64 kilometers (40 miles) from Mexico City.
Mexican authorities have prepared contingency plans to evacuate communities near the volcano and they placed around 700 military personnel on alert to aid in that effort should it become necessary.
The closest municipalities to Popocatepetl are around 12 kilometers (7.2 miles) away.
Popocatepetl, Mexico's second-highest peak, is one of 14 active volcanoes in the Aztec nation.
(Excerpt) Read more at laprensasa.com ...
I know where you are describing. I am trying to remember the name of the pass. Was it The Pass of Cortez?
I was stationed in Mexico City 1991-1993. Our quarters were in the ‘burbs above the bowl of MC. When I went out to run in the clear early morning, often before first light, I could see Popo. It was very dramatic. Clear days were, however, few and far between.
Wow, I have climbed Cotopaxi as well. Also Cayambe and Chimboraso, all in Ecuador. Cotopaxi blew a big steam eruption suddenly when I was standing at the rim. Popo was more of a constant steam release. Popo had a bubbling lake in the bottom of the crater while everything else around the top was glacier.
Let ‘er rip!
The earth is not done with us yet.
No, my name is not Popocatepetl, why do you ask?
Here is the perfect answer: We’ll lower the population by sending Mexican immigrants back, reducing our population and output AND sending them back to a lower carbon footprint lifestyle to boot.
I climbed to within 400 feet of the top in 1957 or 8. That is about 17,400 feet. Started to feel sick and dizzy and turned around. Still an amazing experience. I don’t believe that Cortez viewed Tenochtitlan from the top of Popo. He or someone else did have people climb to the top to scrape up sulfur for making gun powder. Regarding pollution coming into Texas from Mexico. Is it from those Maquilador (sp?) factories set up in Mexico near the border by our business people and others to take advantage of cheap labor and low pollution emission standards?
It seems there is more than the usual amount of volcanic activity these days. Here is the link for a spectacular photo of the volcano on the Chile/Argentina border which has caused to government to evacuate people.
https://twitter.com/GoogleEarthPics/status/339883855047712768/photo/1
See my Comment #29 for a spectacular volcano photo.
That is a fantastic photo.
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