What?
Where?

When?

Why?

So What?

What?

Popocatepetl (pronounced poh-poh-kah-TEH-peh-til), is the second highest volcano in Mexico and is a giant stratovolcano. volcano outside Mexico City erupted in a Strombolian style. The eruption of the 17,886-foot mountain was its biggest show in 1,200 years, when the mountain known locally as "Popo'' filled nearby valleys with [lava].

Where?

It lies 47 miles from Mexico City and the capital's suburbs, which are home to 18 million people.

When?

Tuesday 19th December 2000.

Why?

Popocatepetl is located along the Pacific RIng of Fire.

So what?

The volcanoes name means means ``smoking mountain'' in the Nahuatl Indian language. The Nahua Indians have long lived on the flanks of the volcano.

30,000 people were evacuated from villages near the mountain to government shelters.

Authorities warned that a major eruption of lava or intense spewing of hot debris could possibly melt the ice cap around the crater and send devastating mud flows or lahars that might wipe out entire villages.