Cerro de la Estrella, Summit in Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico
Cerro de la Estrella is a mountain in the eastern part of Mexico City that rises to about 2,460 meters (8,071 feet) above sea level. The summit holds archaeological structures and a museum that document the site's long history of human occupation.
Human settlements on the site date back to around 1000 BC, with structures built by various Mesoamerican civilizations. The Culhuacan and later the Mexicas used the mountain as a center for their most important religious ceremonies.
The mountain served as the location for the New Fire ceremony, a ritual performed every 52 years to ensure the continuation of the cosmic cycle. Today, visitors can still sense the spiritual importance this sacred site held for ancient peoples.
The mountain is accessible to visitors on foot through well-marked trails that lead from the base to the summit. The museum at the entrance provides background information and serves as a helpful starting point before climbing.
The summit preserves remains of the Temple of the New Fire, where priests performed ceremonies believed to renew the cosmic order. This location held profound spiritual significance as the principal religious center for the region's ancient peoples.
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