GUNUNG · Mexico

Parícutin

Volcán Paricutín

Information

Elevation: 2.800 m
Country: Mexico (MX)
Location / Range: Michoacán–Guanajuato volcanic field, Michoacán
Mountain type: Gunung berapi kerucut cinder/scoria (monogenetik)
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: 19.4891, -102.2506
Difficulty: Menengah (mendaki nonteknis; pasir vulkanik lepas, panjang & terik)
Best Season: November–Mei (musim kemarau)
Permits & Rules: Akses dari desa Purépecha, Angahuan; tidak ada permit formal, tetapi jalur tak bertanda melewati ladang dan hutan sehingga pemandu lokal praktis wajib. Tersedia sewa kuda hingga dasar kerucut.
Hazards: Pasir dan abu vulkanik lepas yang licin di lereng kerucut (dua langkah naik satu turun), rute panjang minim naungan & air, terik matahari, serta uap/gas belerang tipis di sekitar kawah.

Description

Parícutin (≈2,800 m, a ~424 m cone above the plain) is North America's youngest volcano and one of the few in the world whose birth was directly witnessed by people. It burst from farmer Dionisio Pulido's cornfield on 20 February 1943, grew rapidly, and stayed active until 1952 — burying the village of San Juan Parangaricutiro and leaving its church tower jutting from a sea of lava. As one of the 'Seven Natural Wonders', Parícutin is now a popular non-technical hiking objective: a long approach across fields and lava from Angahuan, then a steep climb up loose volcanic sand to the still-steaming crater rim.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Climbing Experiences

Climbing Parícutin almost always starts from Angahuan: a long trek (about 14–20 km round trip) through fields, horse trails, and half-apocalyptic lava flows before the final steep, slippery climb up the ash cone. Hikers describe calf-burning sand slopes ('two steps up, one down'), fierce sun with little shade, and a faint sulfur smell at the still-steaming crater. Many hire a horse to the base of the cone. The lava-swallowed ruins of San Juan Parangaricutiro church are an added highlight.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.