화산 분화구 Cerro de Jico

화산 분화구 Cerro de Jico

Cerro de Jico or “Hill of Hico” is located at the extreme southern tip of Mexico City in the municipality of Hico. 

Cerro de Xico is not really an ordinary hill. 

In fact, these are the remains of an ancient volcanic crater, which today has almost entered the line of the capital of Mexico

 - the city of Mexico City.

As can be seen from the aerial shots below, Cerro de Xico is a beautiful earthen ring formed by the phreatomagmatic nature of 

the eruption through the middle of Lake Chalko, the remains of which can be seen around the crater. 

Located just 40 kilometers south of the city center, the volcanic crater slowly entered the ever-expanding urban development.

Most of the time, the vicinity of the city was under the water of Lake Chalko. 

Lake Chalko together with Lake Texcoco and Shochimilko were formed when lava from the Chichinautzin volcano blocked river 

flows in the south.

During the 16th and 17th centuries after the Spanish conquest of Mexico, the lakes were largely drained to avoid periodic floods.

For the most part, this region was lifeless, until in the late 1970s, after the lake was completely drained, families coming from 

the countries of Central and Southern Mexico suddenly settled here.

Corporate agronomists and desperate landless peasants made illegal or pseudo-legal transactions with utilities and seized 

control of rich volcanic soil. 

Thousands and thousands of families arrived in the region, hoping to find work. 

In the end, from the scarcity of land, the peasants crossed over the edge of the volcano and plowed the fields inside the crater.

Despite being close to the city, there are still no infrastructure and basic services in the Hiko area, including paved roads and 

schools for children.

 Hiko became a separate municipality in 1994, and as of 2005, its population was more than 330,000 inhabitants.