🌋VolcanoAtlas

Michoacán-Guanajuato Volcanic Field

The Birthplace of Parícutin — 1,400 Volcanoes in One Field

Elevation

3,860 m

Last Eruption

1943-1952 (Parícutin)

Type

Volcanic field

Country

Mexico

Location

Loading map...

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Lava flows and fountaining
  • Volcanic gas emissions
  • Local explosive activity

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity-19429926 years agoVery RecentCurrently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Active
Recent volcanic activity detected. Continuous monitoring in place.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All Mexico Volcanoes
Explore by country
Volcanic field Volcanoes
By volcano type
Michoacán-Guanajuato
Regional volcanoes

Other Volcanoes in Mexico

Interesting Facts

🌋

Parícutin is the only volcano in recorded history whose entire life cycle — from birth in a cornfield on February 20, 1943, to cessation in 1952 — was observed and documented by scientists.

🌋

The Michoacán-Guanajuato volcanic field contains over 1,400 individual volcanic vents spread across approximately 50,000 km² — one of the densest concentrations of monogenetic volcanoes on Earth.

🌋

The half-buried church tower of San Juan Parangaricutiro, protruding from Parícutin's lava field, is one of Mexico's most iconic images and a symbol of volcanic destruction.

🌋

Alexander von Humboldt visited Jorullo in 1803 during his famous scientific expedition, making it one of the first volcanoes in the Americas to receive detailed scientific documentation.

🌋

Parícutin grew from flat ground to 336 m tall in just nine years, producing lava flows that covered approximately 25 km² and buried two villages completely.

🌋

Both Jorullo (1759) and Parícutin (1943) reached VEI 4, making them among the most powerful monogenetic eruptions recorded anywhere in the world.

🌋

The Valle de Santiago area in the northeastern part of the field contains spectacular maars — nearly circular explosion craters, several now filled with lakes.

🌋

Three people died during the Parícutin eruption, all killed by lightning generated within the volcanic ash plume rather than by lava or tephra.

🌋

Michoacán is the world's largest avocado-producing region — the fertile volcanic soils of the field contribute to the area's extraordinary agricultural productivity.

🌋

The next eruption in the field could emerge from any point within 50,000 km², making hazard prediction uniquely challenging compared to single-vent volcanoes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could a new volcano appear in the Michoacán-Guanajuato field?
Yes, a new volcanic eruption within the field is considered very likely on geological timescales. Monogenetic volcanic fields produce new vents with each eruption rather than reusing existing ones. With over 1,400 vents built over thousands of years and two major eruptions in the last 265 years (Jorullo in 1759 and Parícutin in 1943), the field is clearly active. The next eruption could emerge at any location within the approximately 50,000 km² field. Precursory seismicity would likely provide days to weeks of warning, but predicting the exact location in advance is currently impossible.
What happened at Parícutin?
On February 20, 1943, farmer Dionisio Pulido watched a fissure open in his cornfield near the village of Parícutin in Michoacán, Mexico. Within hours, lava and ash were erupting. The new cinder cone grew rapidly — 50 m in the first week, eventually reaching 336 m. Over nine years of continuous eruption (ending in 1952), lava flows buried two villages including San Juan Parangaricutiro, whose church tower still protrudes above the lava. Approximately 4,000 people were displaced. Three people died from lightning strikes in the eruption plume. The eruption was classified at VEI 4.
Can you visit Parícutin volcano?
Yes, Parícutin is a popular tourist and geological destination. Visitors typically start from the town of Angahuan, about 30 km west of Uruapan, Michoacán. From Angahuan, a 2-hour hike or horseback ride across the lava field leads to the buried church of San Juan Parangaricutiro. More adventurous visitors can climb Parícutin's cinder cone summit for panoramic views of the lava field and surrounding volcanic landscape. Local Purépecha guides offer tours. The best visiting season is November through April (the dry season).
What is a monogenetic volcanic field?
A monogenetic volcanic field is a type of volcanic system where each eruption typically creates a new vent at a different location rather than erupting repeatedly from the same crater. This produces a landscape scattered with many small volcanic features — cinder cones, maars, lava flows, and small shields — rather than a single large volcano. The Michoacán-Guanajuato field, with over 1,400 vents, is one of the world's largest examples. This contrasts with polygenetic volcanoes like Mount Etna or Popocatépetl, which build up over thousands of eruptions from the same vent.
How big is the Michoacán-Guanajuato volcanic field?
The field covers approximately 200 x 250 km (50,000 km²) across the states of Michoacán and Guanajuato in west-central Mexico, making it one of the largest monogenetic volcanic fields on Earth. For comparison, this is roughly the size of Costa Rica. Within this vast area, over 1,400 individual volcanic vents have been identified. The highest point in the field reaches 3,860 m (12,664 ft). The field encompasses cities, towns, agricultural land, and forests.
What was the Jorullo eruption?
Jorullo was a cinder cone volcano that erupted from September 29, 1759, through 1774 — a 15-year eruption that was one of the most significant volcanic events in colonial-era Mexico. The eruption built a cone approximately 250 m tall and produced extensive lava flows from agricultural land. It was classified at VEI 4. The famous naturalist Alexander von Humboldt visited the still-steaming volcano in 1803 and published detailed observations, bringing Jorullo to international scientific attention and contributing to early understanding of volcanic processes.