(http://www.mnh.si.edu/onehundredyears/expeditions/Paricutin.html)

The volcano is an old shield volcano –and one of the “Seven Natural Wonders of the World”. What makes this volcano interesting is that it’s one of the few active volcanoes in the Sierra Nevada Mtn. Range, with a “recent” explosion (1952). It made over 200 people evacuate and buried three towns in volcanic ash, magma and rock. Think of a modern day Pompeii in a secluded Mexican town.   However, not all is lost, as the general consensus among most towns-people is positive towards the volcano. Tourism boomed, scientific recognition of ex-small towns put places on maps and it made fertile soil. Most people say it’s a great climb, in fact, since it’s located 3, 170m above sea level some athletes have trained there to boost their aerobic endurance.