Iztaccihuatl Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Iztaccíhuatl
Iztaccíhuatl from Amecameca
Highest point
Elevation	5,230 m (17,160 ft)
Prominence	1,530 m (5,020 ft)
Listing	North America highest peaks 8th Mexico highest major peaks 3rd Mexico prominent peaks 25th
Geography
Iztaccíhuatl Location in Mexico Show map of Mexico Iztaccíhuatl Location in North America Show map of North America
Location	México and Puebla, Mexico
Geology
Volcanic arc/belt	Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt
Last eruption	Holocene
Climbing
First ascent	1889 by James de Salis
Easiest route	rock/snow climb

Iztaccíhuatl is a huge, sleeping volcano in Mexico. It stands tall at about 5,230 meters (17,160 feet). You can find it on the border between the State of Mexico and Puebla, inside the Izta-Popo Zoquiapan National Park. It's the third-highest mountain in Mexico, after Pico de Orizaba and Popocatépetl.

The name "Iztaccíhuatl" comes from the Nahuatl language and means "White Woman." This is because its four snow-capped peaks look like the head, chest, knees, and feet of a sleeping woman when you see it from the east or west. Iztaccíhuatl is located north of its twin volcano, Popocatépetl. They are connected by a high mountain pass called Paso de Cortés.

You can often see Iztaccíhuatl from Mexico City, which is about 70 kilometers (43 miles) away, depending on the weather. The first recorded climb was in 1889, but old evidence suggests that the Aztecs and other ancient cultures climbed it long before that. It is the lowest mountain in Mexico that still has permanent snow and glaciers.

The Legend of Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl
Mountain Height
Images for kids
See also

The Legend of Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl

A view of Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl from Mexico City

There's a famous Aztec legend about Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl. In this story, Iztaccíhuatl was a beautiful princess who fell in love with a brave warrior named Popocatépetl.

The princess's father, the emperor, sent Popocatépetl to war in Oaxaca. He promised that if Popocatépetl returned victorious, he could marry Iztaccíhuatl. However, the emperor secretly hoped the warrior would not come back.

Sadly, Iztaccíhuatl was falsely told that Popocatépetl had died in battle. Believing this terrible news, she became so sad that she died of a broken heart.

When Popocatépetl finally returned and found his beloved princess gone, he was heartbroken. He carried her body to a high spot outside Tenochtitlan (the ancient Aztec capital) and knelt beside her. The gods, seeing their great love and sorrow, covered them with snow and turned them into mountains.

Iztaccíhuatl's mountain is called "White Woman" because it looks like a woman lying on her back, often covered in snow. People sometimes call it La Mujer Dormida, which means "The Sleeping Woman." Popocatépetl became an active volcano, and the fire and smoke that come from it are said to be his rage and sorrow over losing his love.

Mountain Height

Iztaccíhuatl is often listed as being 5,286 meters (17,343 feet) tall. However, more recent measurements and mapping surveys suggest its height is closer to 5,220 to 5,230 meters (17,130 to 17,160 feet). The Global Volcanism Program, which tracks volcanoes around the world, states its height as 5,230 meters (17,160 feet).