Characteristics

• Located at 19.5° N, 102.2° W.
• Has an elevation of 10,400 ft. (3,170 m.)
• Lava covered approximately 10 sq. mi. (25 sq. km.)
• Paricutín has a volume of 0.3 cubic mi.(1.5 cubic km.)

Technology

• Volcanoes form when molten rock from the Earth's center escapes through the Earth's crust.
• Paricutín began erupting in 1943 and continued until 1952.
• Over this time, Paricutín grew 1,390 ft. (424 m.)
• The most activity was in the first year where 1,100 ft. (336 m.) was added.
• In the next 8 years, Paricutín grew only 290 ft. (88 m.).

Wonder Qualities

• Although Paricutín is fairly small in size, the advancements available to its field are unrivaled by any other wonder.
• Paricutín is the first volcano that was "born" and "died" in the sight of volcanologists.
• It "lived" from 1943 to 1952 making it the first volcanic eruption in the twentieth century.