ECUADOR
2-5 COTOPAXI 6-9 CAYAMBE 10-13 CHIMBORAZO 14-17 QUILOTOA 18-21 PICHINCHA
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THE SACRED IN THE HEART OF THE TALLEST VOLCANO
The Cotopaxi, the 2nd tallest mountain in the country, is an active volcano and sometimes you may even observe fumaroles, although its activity cannot compare with its neighbors the Tungurahua and the Sangay.
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As one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, with a nearly perfect conical shape, Cotopaxi attracts more visitors than any other volcanoes in Ecuador. This is the classic volcano people imagine when they think of volcanoes. Cotopaxi is the second highest mountain in Ecuador (5,897 m / 19,347 ft.) and the most popular high altitude climb in the country because of the relative simplicity involved in the climb. But although,
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climbing Cotopaxi is considered not difficult, it is considered a technical climb too, because of the technical climbing gear necessary for the ascent, such as: crampons, ice axe and crevasse rescue gear. It is also known as the world’s third highest active volcano after volcan Ojos Del Salado (6,893 m / 22,615 ft.) and Tupungato (6,550 m / 21,490 ft.) in the Argentine/ Chilean border. Its volcanic activity can be easily perceived by those who have reached its summit or the proximity of its external northern crater walls known as Yanasacha (black rock in kechwa language). The summit or highest point it’s actually the northern rim of the crater, which is rounded and measures approximately 480 meters wide. The smell of sulfur and the presence of fumaroles are evident from up there.
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Ca yam be A day spent riding throught the mountain light. Ana Vanegas
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evado Cayambe is a massive volcanic complex in northern Ecuador, 60 km NE of the city of Quito and only 15 km E of the 20,000 inhabitants city
of Cayambe. The equator passes through its southern flank. The andesitic-dacitic volcano is located on the isolated western edge of the Cordillera Real in the Ecuadorian Andes, east of the Inter-Andean Valley. The volcano is capped by extensive glaciers, which descend to 4200 m on the eastern Amazonian side. It contains 2 summit lava domes located about 1.5 km apart, the western of which is the highest. Several other lava domes are located on the upper flanks and have been the source of pyroclastic flows down the lower flanks of the volcano.
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The Sierra includes two high mountain chains and their western and eastern foothills. The western and central ranges of the Andes bordering the Sierra constitute the country’s highest and most continuous mountain chains. Many peaks are volcanic or snow-covered; these include Cayambe (18,996 ft), Antisana (18,714 ft), Cotopaxi (19,347 ft), Chimborazo (20,702 ft), Altar (17,451 ft), and Sangay (17,158 ft). These are included in two ranges connected at intervals by transversal mountain chains, between which are large iasolated valleys or basins, called hoyas. Cayambe, mountain of the sun, is at 5790m not only the third highest mountain in Ecuador but also in the northern hemisphere of the American continent.
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