Cofre de Perote

Geography & Climate

Cofre de Perote is located in Mexico, within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Arc of the broader Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. Situated at 19.49° N, 97.15° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. Standing at 4,282 meters above sea level, Cofre de Perote towers above the alpine zone, where vegetation gives way to bare rock, snow, and ice for much of the year. The high elevation means the upper slopes experience significantly colder temperatures than surrounding lowlands. The volcanic landform is characterized as a composite, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.

Geological Context

Cofre de Perote sits in a subduction zone, where one tectonic plate dives beneath another, creating intense heat and pressure that generates magma. Subduction zones are responsible for many of the world's most explosive volcanoes and deadliest eruptions. For communities in Mexico near Cofre de Perote, this tectonic setting means the volcano is capable of producing powerful explosive eruptions, pyroclastic flows, and lahars that can threaten populated areas within tens of kilometers of the summit. The dominant rock type is andesite / basaltic andesite, a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that forms from rapidly cooling, low-viscosity lava. Basaltic eruptions tend to be less explosive and produce fluid lava flows that can travel long distances. While less immediately dangerous than explosive eruptions, basaltic lava flows can destroy structures and infrastructure in their path, and volcanic gases released during these eruptions can affect air quality over a wide area.

Eruption History Summary

Cofre de Perote has 1 recorded eruption in the geological database, spanning from 1150 CE to 1150 CE. The most powerful recorded event was an explosive event producing ash plumes up to several kilometers in 1150 CE, reaching VEI 2 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index.

GVP Reference Summary

Cofre de Perote is a massive Quaternary andesitic-dacitic volcano at the NNE end of a volcanic chain extending southward to Pico de Orizaba (Citlaltépetl). Lava flows dominated in formation of this broad compound volcano, which is largely of Pleistocene age and morphologically distinct from the steep-sided stratovolcanoes of the Mexican Volcanic Belt. Glaciation at the summit has left a steep box-like peak which is sometimes referred to as the "Treasure Chest of Perote." A large escarpment formed in part by multiple edifice collapses cuts the eastern side of the volcano. Numerous monogenetic cinder cones, likely related to regional volcanism, were erupted through the flanks. A cluster of youthful basaltic cinder cones is located on the NE flank, and young lava flows have traveled eastward to beyond the major city of Xalapa (Jalapa), the capital of the state of Veracruz. The youngest lava flow, from the El Volcancillo vent on the lower NE flank, was radiocarbon dated at about 900 years ago.

— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program