This volcanic crater Xico gave the same name to one of the most remote and picturesque areas of Mexico City. The history of the "birth" of this crater is very interesting, it was formed thousands of years ago as a result of a strong volcanic eruption and hundreds of years was hidden under the peaceful waters of Lake Chalko. At the beginning of the 14th century, due to a change in climate, the lake began to dry up, and already in the 19th century, the government decided to completely drain the lake and establish farmlands in its place.
Let's find out more about this place …
Cerro de Xiko or “Hill of Hiko” is located at the extreme southern tip of Mexico City in the municipality of Hiko. Cerro de Xico is not really an ordinary hill. In fact, these are the remains of an ancient volcanic crater, which today practically entered the boundaries of the capital of Mexico - the city of Mexico City.
Today, the territory framed by the ring of the crater is completely occupied by fields and plantations, on the fertile volcanic soil, local farmers manage to successfully grow a variety of agricultural crops. In a matter of years, a huge number of houses were built in the immediate vicinity of the crater; today the population of the area exceeds 300,000 people.
Xico crater is one of the most accessible and interesting from a tourist point of view; tourists can easily get to the colorful agricultural area from Mexico City and the surrounding cities. Xiko is an amazing natural landmark located in close proximity to the center of the bustling metropolis. Stepping over the rim of the crater, you can find yourself in a fabulously beautiful area with spacious plowed fields and trees, in the shade of which it is so nice to hide on a sultry day.
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As seen in the aerial images below, Cerro de Xico is a beautiful ring of earth formed by the phreatomagmatic nature of the eruption through the middle of Lake Chalco, 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 outskirts of the city were under the water of Lake Chalko. Lake Chalco, along with Lake Texcoco and Xochimilco, was 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 flooding.
For the most part, this area was lifeless, until in the late 1970s, after the final drainage of the lake, families from the countries of Central and Southern Mexico suddenly began to settle here.
Corporate agronomists and desperate landless peasants made illegal or sham deals with utilities and seized control of the rich volcanic soil. Thousands and thousands of families came to the region hoping to find work. In the end, due to the lack of land, the peasants climbed over the edge of the volcano and plowed the fields inside the crater.
Despite its proximity to the city, the Hiko area still lacks infrastructure and basic services, including paved roads and schools for children.
Hiko became a separate municipality in 1994 and as of 2005 had a population of over 330,000.