The Xico Crater is a grandiose natural wonder on the outskirts of Mexico City

Almost everyone who sees the Xiko Crater for the first time thinks that it is an ancient man-made structure. How could it be otherwise, since this huge ring-shaped object is located within the boundaries of the Mexican capital. But the ancient Indians and even aliens have nothing to do with it. Xico, or as the locals call it Cerro de Xico, is a real volcanic crater that appeared thousands of years ago.

The volcanic crater Xico is located in the same area of Mexico City, to which, however, it gave its name. Once upon a time, the crater of an extinct volcano was filled with water. This place was called Lake Chalco and was rich in fish. But in the 14th century the reservoir began to dry up. In the 19th century, it was more like a swamp and the authorities of Mexico City decided to drain it.

When the crater floor was exposed, it became clear that it was ideal for agriculture. Thousands of years of silt have made the soil incredibly fertile. Therefore, city officials decided to give the Xiko crater to farmers for their land. A little more than a century ago, a couple of small villages were located near the crater, and Mexico City was quite a distance from it. But everything quickly changed.

After the swampy crater stopped emitting fumes and breeding mosquitoes, and fields appeared at its bottom, people quickly began to settle in this area. Today, according to the most conservative estimates, 300 thousand people live around the crater. Of course, these people live not only off the fields inside the crater of an extinct volcano. Many work in Mexico City, of which the Xico district has become a suburb.

Tourists also provide employment to the local population. Xico Crater is a popular attraction. Major hotels in Mexico City are located relatively close and the flow of guests here never ends. Excursions, selling souvenirs and providing all kinds of services feed tens of thousands of local residents.

What attracts tourists to the Xiko Crater? First of all, this is the unusualness of this place, which rises on a plain among residential areas. And if you climb the slope and go down to the bottom of the giant bowl, then this location seems like a fairy tale. Inside are lush fields and gardens that contrast sharply with the vegetation located outside. A special microclimate has formed in the crater, which is pleasant to be in when the sizzling heat reigns around.

The craters of extinct volcanoes often become repositories of life. The Wau an-Namus crater in the heart of the Libyan Desert shelters a real oasis within its walls.