Ash plume from Paracutin Volcano, Mexico, sometime during 1946-1948

An ash plume rises from the summit crater of Parícutin sometime during 1946-48. A thick ash deposit covers the foreground. An estimated 4,500 cattle and 550 horses died during the heavy ashfall in the early months of the eruption, devastating the local people who depended on the animals for food, plowing, and transportation. Ashfall was deeper than 6 inches (15 cm) over a 115 square mile (300 square kilometer) area around the volcano and continued with varying intensity throughout the 9-year-long eruption.  Photo by Ray Wilcox (U.S. Geological Survey).