Tetlalmanche Volcano

The Tetlalmanche volcano is one of the most famous in the City. It’s the tallest in the Sierra de Santa Catarina, and the third tallest in Mexico City. It’s also often called the Guadalupe Volcano. Less often, it’s still sometimes called “el Borrego,” or “Cerro de la Tortuga.” Despite heavy mining, the mountain has retained much of its recognizable volcanic shape, including the distinctive crater at the top.

The Nahuatl name could be roughly translated as “mountain that throws stones.” A monogenetic volcano, it erupted just once during the Mesozoic Era. The peak rises to 2,820 meters above sea level. As such, it’s a visible part of daily life in many parts of Iztapalapa and Tláhuac.

One of its most emblematic peaks in the City, the northern slopes are covered with a number of neighborhoods. Most prominent is San Miguel Teotongo with a famous community museum. Santa Catarina Yecahuizotl is nearly directly to the east. To the south, the volcano is a protected natural area. This is because it’s a particularly important source of rainwater. This keeps the water tables beneath the city not only full, but clean.

The slopes connect with those of Tecuauhtzin to the west. This gives the two mountains a singular appearance especially for residents in the eastern neighborhoods of Iztapalapa.