El Cuexcomate

El Cuexcomate is an inactive geyser in the Mexican city of Puebla, formed by geothermal activity. The name comes from the Nahuatl word for a large clay pot, a reference to the structure's distinctive shape. The limestone sinter formation was built up before the eruption of Popocatépetl in 1064, when hydrothermal circulation forced its way through Mesozoic limestone. The structure stands about 13 meters (43 feet) tall and has an outer diameter of roughly 22 meters (72 feet). Inside is a deep crater up to 8 meters (26 feet) wide and 17 meters (56 feet) deep, with its floor lying 4 meters (13 feet) below ground level.

Although the site is often wrongly described as the smallest volcano in the world, El Cuexcomate is actually a chemical deposit of calcite formed by escaping geothermal waters. Historically, the area, which today belongs to the La Libertad neighborhood, was incorporated into the city of Puebla in 1943. A plaque commemorates the founding of the settlement around the geyser. Legends once circulated that locals associated the structure with the devil or threw sacrifices into the crater, but these are not considered geological fact.

For visitors, El Cuexcomate is a unique natural landmark located at the intersection of 2 Poniente and 3 Norte. A metal spiral staircase lets you descend into the excavated interior of the crater. Cultural events are occasionally held there, so you can experience the unusual formation up close and appreciate the site's historical significance within Puebla's urban landscape.