Which volcano is Mexico’s highest mountain, rising to about 5,636 metres?

Pico de Orizaba is Mexico’s highest mountain, rising to about 5,636 metres.

Also called Citlaltépetl, it is a prominent stratovolcano in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, near the border of Veracruz and Puebla. Its summit is capped by a glacier, although the glacier has retreated substantially over recent decades.

Pico de Orizaba is dormant rather than extinct. Its most recent known eruption occurred in the nineteenth century, and the mountain remains a significant climbing destination. The name Citlaltépetl comes from Nahuatl and is commonly translated as “Star Mountain.”

It is often confused with Popocatépetl, another famous Mexican volcano. Popocatépetl is more frequently active, but Pico de Orizaba is higher.