<Tr> <Th> First ascent </Th> <Td> 1943 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Easiest route </Th> <Td> Hike </Td> </Tr> <P> Parícutin (or Volcán de Parícutin, also accented Paricutín) is a cinder cone volcano located in the Mexican state of Michoacán, near the city of Uruapan and about 322 kilometers (200 mi) west of Mexico City . The volcano surged suddenly from the cornfield of local farmer Dionisio Pulido in 1943, attracting both popular and scientific attention . </P> <P> Paricutín presented the first occasion for modern science to document the full life cycle of an eruption of this type . During the volcano's nine years of activity, scientists sketched and mapped it and took thousands of samples and photographs . By 1952, the eruption had left a 424 - meter - high (1,391 ft) cone and significantly damaged an area of more than 233 square kilometers (90 sq mi) with the ejection of stone, volcanic ash and lava . Three people were killed, two towns were completely evacuated and buried by lava, and three others were heavily affected . Hundreds of people had to be permanently relocated, and two new towns were created to accommodate their migration . Although the larger region still remains highly active volcanically, Parícutin is now dormant and has become a tourist attraction with people climbing the volcano and visiting the hardened lava - covered ruins of the San Juan Parangaricutiro Church . In 1997, CNN included Parícutin in its list of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World . </P>

Paracutin in mexico is an example of a