The volcano of Parícutin soon after its birth in 1943. Photo by K. Segerstrom
The volcano of Parícutin soon after its birth in 1943. Photo by K. Segerstrom
On February 20, 1943, the farmer Dionisio Pulido observed the birth of a volcano. For weeks the ground near the village of Uruapan, about 200 miles west of Mexico City, had been trembling and deep underground rumblings were heard. That day the earth rose up more than six feet and from a fissure ash and vapors were emitted with a loud hissing sound. In the night a cone of ash formed. Another farmer, Celedonio Gutierrez, described the scene as follows: "In the evening, when night began to fall, we heard noises like the surge of the sea, and red flames of fire rose into the darkened sky, some rising 2,600 feet or more into the air, that burst like golden marigolds, and a rain like artificial fire fell to the ground."


This was a unique opportunity and the volcano of Parícutin, named after a nearby village, captured the interests of scientists as of the general public. Mineralogist William Foshag of the U.S. National Museum documented the growth of the volcano one month after its birth and he was even featured (together with the volcano) in the Life magazine. Hollywood filmed some scenes of the 1947 movie "Captain from Castile" around the active Parícutin. Even airplanes, flying from Los Angeles to Mexico City, diverted from their regular route to catch a glimpse of the ongoing eruption.

The Parícutin, which reached a total height of 1,391 feet, was most active in its first year. Its eruption style changed over time. After ash had fomed a 1,000 feet high cone, also lava started to pour out from the fissures. The lava buried the surrounding town of San Juan Parangaricutiro, leaving only the church steeple sticking out of the rocks.


The entire area was evacuated in time and the eruption claimed no victims. The volcano continued to erupt until March 1952 when the eruption ceased as suddenly as it started.