The highest of these hills had on its summit
a regular volcanic crater, whence there have been thrown up great
quantities of dross and lava, containing fragments of older rocks. The
ashes were transported to immense distances, some of them having fallen
on the houses at Queretaro, more than forty-eight leagues from Jorullo.
The volcano continued in this energetic state of activity for about four
months; in the following years its eruptions became less frequent, but
it still continues to emit volumes of vapor from the principal crater,
as well as from many of the ovens in the upheaved ground.
EFFECT ON THE RIVERS
The two rivers, which disappeared on the first night of this great
eruption, now pursue an underground course for about a mile and a
quarter, and then reappear as hot springs, with a temperature of 126
degrees F.
This wonderful volcanic upheaval is all the more remarkable, from the
inland situation of the plain on which it occurred, it being no less
than 120 miles distant from the nearest ocean, while there is no other
volcano nearer to it than 80 miles. The activity of the ovens has now
ceased, and portions of the upheaved plain on which they are situated
have again been brought under cultivation, and the volcano is in a state
of quiescence.
The crater of Popocatapetl, which towers to a height of 17,000 feet, is
a vast circular basin, whose nearly vertical walls are in some parts
of a pale rose tint, in others quite black.
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