Parícutin
First volcano fully documented by modern science from birth to dormancy.
Parícutin, also known as Volcán de Parícutin, is a cinder cone volcano in the Mexican state of Michoacán. It sits near the city of Uruapan, roughly 322 kilometers west of Mexico City. In 1943, it burst out of a cornfield owned by a local farmer named Dionisio Pulido, drawing widespread attention from both the public and scientists. This eruption gave modern researchers their first chance to observe and record the entire life cycle of such a volcano.
Over nine years of activity, scientists created sketches and maps, and collected thousands of samples and photographs. By the time the eruption ended in 1952, it had built a cone 424 meters high and damaged over 233 square kilometers with ejected stone, ash, and lava. The eruption killed three people, forced the complete evacuation of two towns—one buried under lava and the other covered by ash—and heavily affected three others. Hundreds of people had to move permanently, and two new towns were built to house them. Though the broader region remains volcanically active, Parícutin is now dormant and has become a tourist destination. Visitors climb the volcano and explore the hardened lava-covered ruins of the San Juan Parangaricutiro Church. In 1997, CNN named it one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and that same year the disaster film *Volcano* cited it as a precedent for its fictional events.
The volcano lies in the municipality of Nuevo Parangaricutiro, Michoacán, 29 kilometers west of Uruapan. It sits on the northern flank of Pico de Tancítaro, which itself rests atop an old shield volcano and rises 3,170 meters above sea level, while Parícutin’s cone reaches 424 meters above the Valley of Quitzocho-Cuiyusuru. These structures are wedged against old volcanic mountain chains and surrounded by small volcanic cones. The valleys between them contain fields, orchards, and settlements ranging from a few houses to towns.
Parícutin is part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, a 900-kilometer-long zone running west to east across central Mexico. This belt includes the Sierra Nevada mountain range, made up of extinct volcanoes, along with thousands of cinder cones and volcanic vents. Volcanic activity here created the Central Mexican Plateau and rock deposits up to 1.8 kilometers deep. It also produced fertile soils through widespread ash deposition, making some of Mexico’s most productive farmland. This acti
- type
- Cinder cone volcano
- location
- Michoacán, Mexico, near Uruapan
- elevation
- 424 meters (1,391 ft) above the valley floor
- eruption_period
- 1943–1952
- area_damaged
- Over 233 square kilometers (90 mi²)
- deaths
- 3
- status
- Dormant
Quick Facts
- Elevation M
- 2,800
- Prominence M
- 208
- Location
- location of Parícutin in Mexico
- Country
- Mexico
- State
- Michoacán
- State Type
- State
- Age
- 1941–1952
- Volcanic Belt
- Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt
- Last Eruption
- 1943 to 1952
- First Ascent
- 1943
- Easiest Route
- Hike
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Parícutin erupted from 1943 to 1952, unusually long for this type of volcano, and with several eruptive phases. For weeks prior, residents reported hearing noises like thunder without clouds, consistent with deep earthquakes caused by magma movement. The eruption began on 20 February 1943 at about 4:00 pm local time in a cornfield owned by Dionisio Pulido. The ground swelled and formed a fissure, and within hours a small crater developed. By the first night, red flames rose 800 meters or more into the air, and within 24 hours a scoria cone fifty meters high had formed.
Reader's Guide
Parícutin is significant as the first volcano whose entire life cycle—from sudden birth to dormancy—was scientifically documented. During its nine years of activity, scientists sketched and mapped it, took thousands of samples and photographs. The eruption forced the evacuation of two towns, which were buried by lava, and heavily affected three others. Hundreds of people permanently relocated, and two new towns were created. Although the region remains volcanically active, Parícutin is now dormant and has become a tourist attraction, with people climbing the volcano and visiting the hardened lava-covered ruins of the San Juan Parangaricutiro Church. In 1997, CNN named Parícutin one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The same year, the disaster film Volcano mentioned it as a precedent for the film's fictional events.
Did You Know?
- Parícutin is the youngest of approximately 1,400 volcanic vents in the Michoacán-Guanajuato volcanic field.
- Three people were killed by the eruption, and two towns were completely evacuated and buried by lava.
- By 2013, the crater was about 200 meters across, and it was possible to climb the volcano and walk around the entire perimeter.
- The volcano is still hot, and seeping rainwater reacts with this heat so that the cone still emits steam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Parícutin?
Parícutin is a cinder cone volcano situated in the Mexican state of Michoacán, just outside the city of Uruapan. It rises 424 meters (roughly 1,391 feet) above the surrounding valley floor.
How did Parícutin suddenly appear?
In 1943 the ground split open inside a cornfield belonging to a local farmer named Dionisio Pulido, and lava began pouring out almost overnight. The spectacle quickly drew volcanologists and curious onlookers from across the region and beyond.
Why do volcano fans consider Parícutin so special?
Parícutin is celebrated as the first volcano in recorded history to be tracked by modern science from its very first eruption all the way through to dormancy. Over roughly nine years, researchers amassed thousands of photographs, hand-drawn maps, and rock samples to document every stage of its growth.
How much damage did Parícutin cause?
Lava flows and pyroclastic material destroyed or buried more than 233 square kilometers of farmland and small settlements around the cone. Tragically, three people lost their lives during the eruption period.
When did Parícutin stop erupting?
After about nine years of continuous activity that began in 1943, Parícutin's eruptions came to a halt in 1952. The volcano has remained dormant ever since, standing as a permanent monument to that remarkable window of observation.
More in Volcanoes 1-22
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record