Elevation: 18,491 feet (5,636 meters)
Location: East central Mexico
First Ascent: First known ascent by William Raynolds and G. Maynard (US soldiers) in 1848. Probably climbed earlier by locals.
Fast Facts:
- Orizaba is also called by its Aztec name Citlaltepetl, which means “Star Mountain.” It’s also called Volcan Pico de Orizaba, meaning “Volcano Peak of Orizaba."
- Orizaba is the third highest mountain in North America, with only Denali (Mt. McKinley) in Alaska and Mount Logan in Canada being higher.
- Orizaba is the highest peak in the world between 10 and 20 degrees north latitude and the highest volcano in North America.
- The name Orizaba comes from a nearby town and the valley south of the peak. Orizaba is a bastardized Spanish word from the Aztecan name Ahuilizapa (pronounced âwil-lis-â-pan), which translates to “Place of the Playing Water.”
- Orizaba is located 120 miles east of Mexico City on the border of the Mexican states Puebla and Vera Cruz.
- Orizaba is a huge dormant volcano that last erupted between 1545 and 1566.
- The volcano formed in three stages in the Pleistocene Epoch over a million years ago.
- Orizaba is visible on a clear day from the Gulf of Mexico and the city of Veracruz over 60 miles to the east.
- Orizaba is relatively easy to climb, but requires competence with an ice axe, crampons, and rope. The climb crosses snowfields and a small glacier. The high altitude can also affect climbers. The traverse along the crater rim to its high point summit is potentially dangerous—a slip leads either into the crater or down the steep-sided volcano.
