Paricutín

Paricutín, volcano in southwestern Mexico. Between Feb. 20, 1943 (its first appearance) and 1952 (when its activity ceased), it rose over 1,700 ft (525 m) and spread lava and ash over 19 sq mi (50 sq km), burying the villages of Paricutin and San Juan Parangaricútiru and destroying farmlands and forests. It is part of Mexico's Volcanic Axis, an east-west line of volcanoes.