Nevado de Toluca, National park in State of Mexico, Mexico
Nevado de Toluca is a dormant volcano in the State of Mexico, with two crater lakes sitting above 15000 feet (about 4560 meters). The national park stretches across high grasslands and alpine zones where air thins and vegetation grows sparse.
The Mexican government declared this area a protected zone in 1936 to safeguard the country's fourth highest peak. Authorities later expanded its boundaries to include more ecosystems and regulate access.
Local residents often call this mountain Xinantécatl, a Náhuatl term meaning naked man, referring to its bare volcanic slopes. The name reflects how indigenous communities have long viewed the peak as a sacred place tied to seasonal cycles and agriculture.
A paved road leads close to the crater, making it one of the highest points in Mexico reachable by car. The high altitude requires acclimatization, and weather can shift quickly, especially during afternoons.
The elliptical crater holds two permanent lakes called Sun and Moon, sitting at roughly the same elevation. Archaeologists have found offerings from pre-Hispanic times in their waters, including copal resin and ceramics.
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