What do the colors on the contour map of Iztaccihuatl (5230m) mean?

The contour map uses a hypsometric color scale where green represents lower elevations, yellow and orange indicate mid-range altitudes, and white marks the highest zones near the summit. Thicker contour lines (index contours) are drawn at wider intervals to help you quickly estimate elevation.

What is the contour interval for Iztaccihuatl (5230m)?

The contour map of Iztaccihuatl (5230m) uses a 100m contour interval. This means each line represents a 100m change in elevation. Closely spaced contours indicate steeper terrain, while widely spaced contours show gentler slopes.

What does the elevation profile of Iztaccihuatl (5230m) show?

The elevation profile is a cross-section through Iztaccihuatl (5230m) from west to east, passing through the summit at 5,230m. It reveals the mountain's shape, steepness, and relative height compared to the surrounding terrain. The horizontal axis shows distance in kilometers from the peak.

What is the snow line on Iztaccihuatl (5230m)?

At Iztaccihuatl (5230m)'s latitude (19°), the estimated permanent snow line is approximately 4,800m. Since Iztaccihuatl (5230m) reaches 5,230m, about 430m of the mountain extends above the snow line. This is shown as a dashed blue line on the elevation profile.

Why does Iztaccihuatl (5230m) have a crater?

As a stratovolcano, Iztaccihuatl (5230m) was built by alternating layers of lava and ash. The summit crater is visible on the contour map as a small depression within the tightly spaced concentric contours near the peak.

Iztaccihuatl (5230m)

Iztaccihuatl stands at 5230 meters in Mexico, part of the Sierra Madre, North America. This peak is classified as a Stratovolcano.

Elevation

5230 m

Prominence

— m

Coordinates

19.178889, -98.641944

Type

stratovolcano

Elevation Comparison

Volcanic

About This Mountain

Iztaccihuatl (5230m) is a stratovolcano in the Sierra Madre, Mexico. Grade 3/5: strenuous climb with technical sections demanding experience. This stratovolcano rises steeply from the surrounding terrain with a classic conical profile.

Routes

La Arista (Normal Route) (Iztaccihuatl) 3

18.00 km · 14.0h

Direct Glacier Route (Iztaccihuatl) 4

16.00 km · 12.0h

Seasonal Conditions

Topographic Analysis

Contour Map

The topographic contour map of Iztaccihuatl (5230m) in the Sierra Madre shows near-circular, closely spaced contours indicating steep conical slopes. Contour lines are drawn at 100m intervals, with index contours (thicker lines) every 500m. The hypsometric color scale ranges from green (lower elevations) through yellow and orange to white (highest elevations near the 5,230m summit). Above 4,800m, the estimated snow line at this latitude, contours transition to cooler tones indicating permanent snow and ice.

Elevation Profile

The east–west elevation profile of Iztaccihuatl (5230m) in the Sierra Madre shows the terrain cross-section through the summit at 5,230m. The color gradient transitions from green (valley floor) to white (summit zone), with the red summit marker indicating the peak. The dashed blue snow line at 4,800m marks the approximate elevation above which permanent snow persists year-round.