Popocatépetl Volcano from Ozumba

The Popocatépetl Stratovolcano

Rising to roughly 5,393 metres, Popocatépetl is the second-highest peak in Mexico and one of the planet's most closely watched active volcanoes. Its near-perfect conical silhouette, frequent plumes of gas and ash, and glaciated summit make it an unmistakable presence on the central Mexican skyline.

The View from Ozumba

This camera looks toward the volcano from Ozumba de Alzate, a town nestled at the foot of the mountain's western slopes. Pine-clad ridges and broad agricultural valleys separate the settlement from the summit cone, giving a clear line of sight to the crater that dominates the upper frame.

Volcanic Monitoring

Popocatépetl sits within a permanently monitored hazard zone, and feeds like this one complement the official seismic and gas-emission networks that track the volcano's eruptive activity. Watchers can follow changes in the crater plume and the conditions on the upper flanks throughout the year.

A Living Volcanic Landscape

The surrounding terrain belongs to the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, a tectonically dynamic region of high peaks, lava fields and fertile basins. From this vantage the interplay between the forested foothills and the imposing volcanic summit is on permanent display.