{{Short description|Volcano in Mexico}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Iztaccíhuatl | image = IztaccihualtSacromonte1.JPG | image_caption = Iztaccíhuatl from Amecameca | elevation_m = 5,230 | elevation_ref = <ref name="gvp" /> | prominence_m = 1,530 | prominence_ref = <ref name="peakbagger">{{cite web|title= Volcán Iztaccíhuatl|work=Summits of the World|url=http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=8033|publisher=peakbagger.com|access-date=30 June 2010}}</ref> | listing = {{unbulleted list |North America highest peaks 8th |Mexico highest major peaks 3rd |Mexico prominent peaks 25th }} | location = México and Puebla, Mexico | range = | map = Mexico#North America | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = Location in Mexico | label_position = right | coordinates = {{coord|19|10|44|N|98|38|30|W|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = <ref name="gvp">{{cite gvp |vn=341082 |name=Iztaccíhuatl |access-date=2010-06-22}}</ref> | volcanic_belt = Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt | last_eruption = Holocene<ref name="gvp"/> | first_ascent = 1889 by James de Salis | easiest_route = rock/snow climb }}
'''Iztaccíhuatl''' or '''Ixtaccíhuatl''' (both forms also spelled without the accent) ({{IPA|nah|istakˈsiwat͡ɬ|-|Iztaccichuatl.ogg}} or, as spelled with the '''x''', {{IPA|nah|iʃtakˈsiwat͡ɬ|}}) is a {{convert|5,230|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="gvp"/> dormant volcanic mountain in Mexico located on the border between the State of Mexico and Puebla within Izta-Popo Zoquiapan National Park. It is the nation's third highest, after Pico de Orizaba at {{convert|5,636|m|ft|abbr=on}}, and Popocatépetl at {{convert|5,426|m|ft|abbr=on}}.
The name "Iztaccíhuatl" is Nahuatl for "White (like salt) woman", reflecting the four individual snow-capped peaks which depict the head, chest, knees and feet of a sleeping female when seen from east or west. Iztaccíhuatl is to the north of its twin Popocatépetl, to which it is connected by the high altitude Paso de Cortés. Depending on atmospheric conditions Iztaccíhuatl is visible much of the year from Mexico City some {{convert|70|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the northwest. The first recorded ascent was made in 1889, though archaeological evidence suggests the Mexica and previous cultures climbed it previously. It is the lowest peak containing permanent snow and glaciers in Mexico.
== Geology == The summit ridge of the massive {{convert|450|km3|cumi|abbr=on}} volcano is a series of overlapping cones constructed along a NNW-SSE line to the south of the Pleistocene Llano Grande caldera. There have been andesitic and dacitic Pleistocene and Holocene eruptions from vents at or near the summit. Areas near the El Pecho summit vent are covered in flows and tuff beds post-dating glaciation, approximately 11,000 years ago. The most recent vents are at El Pecho and a depression at {{convert|5,100|m|ft|abbr=on}} along the summit ridge midway between El Pecho and Los Pies.<ref name="gvp"/>
== Legend of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl == {{Main|Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl}} [[Image:Mexico_City_volcanos.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Forshortened view of Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl from the Polanco district of Mexico City]]
In Tlaxcaltecan mythology, ''Iztaccíhuatl'' was a princess who fell in love with one of her father's warriors, Popocatépetl. The emperor sent Popocatépetl to war in Oaxaca, promising him Iztaccíhuatl as his wife when he returned (which Iztaccíhuatl's father presumed he would not). Iztaccíhuatl was falsely told that Popocatépetl had died in battle, and believing the news, she died of grief. When Popocatépetl returned to find his love dead, he took her body to a spot outside Tenochtitlan and knelt by her grave. The gods covered them with snow and changed them into mountains. Iztaccíhuatl's mountain is called "White Woman" (from Nahuatl {{wikt-lang|nci|iztāc}} "white" and {{wikt-lang|nci|cihuātl}} "woman") because it resembles a woman lying on her back, and is often covered with snow — the peak is sometimes nicknamed ''{{lang|es|La Mujer Dormida}}'', "The Sleeping Woman". Popocatépetl became an active volcano, raining fire on Earth in blind rage at the loss of his beloved.<ref name="legend">{{cite web |title=The Legend of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl |url=http://www.mexonline.com/history-popo.htm |work=Online guide to Mexico |access-date=2010-06-30 |archive-date=2022-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012112302/http://www.mexonline.com/history-popo.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Elevation == Iztaccihuatl is usually listed at {{convert|5,286|m|ft|abbr=on}}, but SRTM data and the Mexican national mapping survey assert that a range of {{convert|5,220|to|5,230|m|ft|abbr=on}} is more accurate.<ref name="EPP-INEGI">{{cite web |url=http://mapserver.inegi.gob.mx/geografia/espanol/estados/pue/elecaciones.cfm?c=1208&e=21&CFID=436826&CFTOKEN=37870244 |title=Elevaciones principales - Puebla |language=es |access-date=17 March 2009 |publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310023905/http://mapserver.inegi.gob.mx/geografia/espanol/estados/pue/elecaciones.cfm?c=1208&e=21&CFID=436826&CFTOKEN=37870244 |archive-date=10 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="SQ-INEGI">{{cite web |url=http://cuentame.inegi.gob.mx/SabiasQue/masymenos/default.aspx?tema=S |title=Lo más y lo menos del territorio de México - Montañas (más altas) |access-date=22 February 2009 |publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303233654/http://cuentame.inegi.gob.mx/SabiasQue/masymenos/default.aspx?tema=S |archive-date=3 March 2012}}</ref> The Global Volcanism Program cites {{convert|5,230|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name="gvp"/>
== Gallery == <gallery mode="packed"> Image:Ixtaccihuatl_Cornshocks.jpg|Iztaccíhuatl from the Puebla side File:Mexico-Iztaccihuatl-hreben.jpg|Around the Knees ({{convert|5,000|m|mile|abbr=on}}) of Iztaccíhuatl File:CSIRO ScienceImage 5599 Forest fires on the slopes of Mount Ixtaccihuatl Mexico.jpg|Forest fires on the slopes File:Izta_crater_orizaba_in_background.jpg|View from the ridge of Mt. Izta towards Pico de Orizaba File:Iztaccihuatl_Ridge.JPG|Iztaccihuatl Ridge after the mountain shelter </gallery>
== See also == {{Portal|North America|Mexico|Mountains|Volcanoes}} *List of mountain peaks of North America **List of mountain peaks of Mexico ***List of volcanoes in Mexico ***List of Ultras of Mexico {{Clear}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links== {{Sister project links|Iztaccíhuatl}}
=== Descriptions === * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080928131401/http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/north_america/mexico/itza.html Iztaccíhuatl - Volcano World] * [http://www.skimountaineer.com/ROF/ROF.php?name=Izta Iztaccíhuatl - Ski Mountaineer] * {{cite peakware|id=122|name=Iztaccihuatl}}
=== Other === * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190704/http://www.iomoon.com/ixtlac.htm Iztaccíhuatl - Stamps] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120216173455/http://www.sawf.org/bin/tips.dll/gettip?user=Sawf+Archives&class=EZine&subclass=Story&tipid=9133&co=0&arch=1&pn=Short_Stories Legend of The Sleeping Lady and Smoking Mountain]
{{NA highest}}{{NA prominent}} {{Mexico highest}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iztaccihuatl}} Category:Volcanoes of Puebla Category:Volcanoes of the State of Mexico Category:Mountains of Mexico Category:Landforms of Puebla Category:Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt Category:Geography of Mesoamerica Category:Places in Aztec mythology Category:Landforms of the State of Mexico Category:Five-thousanders of North America Category:Religious places of the Indigenous peoples of North America Category:Sacred mountains of Mexico Category:Dormant volcanoes