A farmer in the small town of Paricutin was working in his fields in February 1943 when he saw a huge crack appear in the ground. The crack caused the ground to swell several feet into the air, and foul-smelling smoke poured out of it. When the farmer returned the next day to investigate, he discovered a volcanic cone jutting 164 feet (50 meters) into the air. The cone grew at an alarming rate, and it took just 10 weeks to reach 1,000 feet (330 meters). By the time it stopped growing, it measured 1,391 feet (424 meters), just a few feet shorter than the Empire State Building. The new volcano was named Paricutin.
Within the first week of its formation, Paricutin began to spew ash onto the village that shared its name. As it grew in size, it rumbled with loud explosions. By June, lava flowed from the volcano and forced the evacuation of Paricutin. A neighboring village was evacuated a short time later, and both villages were soon covered by lava and ash. Several thousand people were displaced from their homes and were never able to return. Although the volcano remained active until 1952, about 90 percent of its lava and ash were ejected during its first year.
As news of the new volcano spread throughout the world, scientists rushed to Mexico to study it. They continued to observe it throughout its entire life cycle. This was the first time scientists were able to study a volcano from birth to extinction.
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Animal Central
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Semana Santa GUATEMALA'S HOLY WEEK
What if Easter preparations meant dyeing sand, collecting pine needles, and staying up all night to work on an art project that you knew would be ruined the very next day? Well, welcome to Guatemala’s Semana Santa, or Holy Week.
ME OH-MAYA!
The Maya are groups of people who live in parts of Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. Their ancestors created a great society. At its peak, from 600-900 C.E., the Maya civilization was more advanced than its neighbors in the Americas.
Playing Games Honduras-style
Would you play the same games in Honduras that you do in the United States? You might. Children in Honduras enjoy many of the same games North Americans do. They go fishing and shoot baskets. They play sandlot baseball—called bate (BAH tay). They fly kites and ride bikes. Their parents may go horseback riding or play golf or tennis.
LIVING A LONG LIFE IN THE Blue Zone
Most people would like to live as long a life as possible. No one really knows why some people live longer than others, but did you know that where you live can play a big part in how many years you’ll be alive? If you live in a Blue Zone, chances are that you will live much longer than people in other parts of the world.
ATTENTION WORLD: Belize Saves Their Coral Reef
Sea turtles float in clear waters, colorful corals hug the ocean floor, and aquatic animals glide among the mangrove roots. Welcome to the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, the second-largest coral reef in the world (Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is number one). Several years ago, this reef was in crisis, heading toward destruction. But the people of Belize fought back to save their reef’s health.
The Panama Canal
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This is Central America!
It’s time to visit Central America. But first, it helps to know exactly where Central America is. Despite its name, it is the southernmost part of North America, which can seem a little confusing. It makes up most of the isthmus dividing the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean Sea. An isthmus is a narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses and has water on both sides.
