Volcan Xitle

Xitle

Hiking trails go up to the top of the dormant volcano and also lead through cool forests to a natural cave, an historic ranching areas, and other natural attractions in the park. The Xitle volcano erupted in 245 AD, destroying the Mesoamerican city of Cuicuilco and burying the entire area of what is today the Pedregal district of Mexico City under a thick layer of lava flow. The eruptions continued for 70 years until 315 AD. After Mexico City was conquered by the Spanish in the 16th century, settlers built many structures in Tlalpan and Pedregal using black volcanic stone cut from Xitle's hardened lava flow.

• outdoors
• history