Few people know where the Cotopaxi volcano is located on the map, but many have seen this brilliant handsome man in photographs and posters, since he is the “visiting card” of Ecuador. By type it is a stratovolcano, with well-defined craters. Cotopaxi belongs to the Andes mountain system, stretching from the north along the Pacific coast of South America. The volcano is one of the peaks of the Cordillera Oriental ridge. The height of this volcano is 5911 meters above sea level. Solid, but still not enough to enter the top of the most grandiose peaks of the world. Why is Cotopaxi so interesting for a tourist? Learn if you read further.
Fire Breather
The geographic coordinates of the volcano Cotopaxi are: 0 ° 41′03 ″ south latitude and 78 ° 26′14 ″ west longitude. That is, it is located almost at the equator. But despite the tropical heat, the top of the volcano is always ice bound. It is too high for the equatorial sun to melt mountain snows. The shining peak gave the name to the volcano. Quechua Indians nicknamed him Cotopaxi. Translated, this means "Shining Mountain." But this is by no means the highest peak of Ecuador. For example, the Chimborazo volcano rises 6310 meters above sea level. So what is remarkable about Cotopaxi? His higher brother has long fallen asleep forever. And from time to time, Cotopaxi erupts sulfur pillars from the vent, which gives reason to scientists to say that this is the highest active volcano not only in Ecuador, but also the entire planet.
Famous conquerors of the summit
The shining mountain, which from time to time turns into a spewing flame of a hellish abyss, attracted the attention of Europeans. The first attempt to climb its peak was made by the German naturalist Alexander Humboldt and the French botanist Aime Bonplan. In 1802, they arrived in Quito to explore three volcanoes - Chimborazo, Cotopaxi and Pichinchu. Not everything I wanted was successful. Only Pichinchu remained subjugated. But this study also brought its results: scientists have established that the relief of our planet is formed by processes taking place deep in its bowels. The volcano of Cotopaxi turned out to be too tough a nut for the two subsequent expeditions - Bussengo (in 1831) and Wagner (1858). Fortune smiled only to William Rice, who climbed the summit on November 28, 1872. A year later, his feat was repeated by Stübel.
Blond but very dangerous
The glacier crowning the snow-white peak creates the illusion of security. But the volcano of Cotopaxi is not dead, but just dozing. During the time that Europeans arrived in Latin America, he erupted more than fifty times. Sometimes these were innocent water vapor releases, but there were times when the volcanic whims led to human casualties. The largest eruptions were 1532, 1742, 1768, 1864, 1877 and 1940. Since then, Cotopaxi seemed to fall asleep. The last eruption occurred in 1976 and was very minor. Why is Cotopaxi so dangerous? In addition to lava, ash, volcanic bombs, the eruption leads to instant melting of glaciers. Huge masses of water fall from the slopes in the form of mudflows. It is they who lead to mass destruction and casualties.
What is the history of the Kotopakhi volcano?
The eruption of 1768 entered the annals as the most pernicious. In early April, a giant column of steam and ash rose from the vent. This circumstance did not cause a big commotion, but in vain. Already on April 4, the volcano began to erupt sulfur, lava and pyroclastic materials. Magmatic activity gave rise to an earthquake that completely destroyed the nearby town of Latakunga and the surrounding villages. In the capital of Ecuador, Quito it was so dark during the day that people could not see their palms, even if they brought them close to their faces. But in the vicinity of the mountain, no one needed artificial lighting: the volcano simply spewed pillars of fire from its crater. The cannonade thundered, as from cannon shots. And later, a mud landslide completed the destruction of Latacunga. The eruption products were found in the Amazon basin and on the Pacific coast, that is, hundreds of kilometers from the place where the Kotopakhi volcano is located.
Is it dangerous to climb a mountain now?
As already mentioned, from the beginning of the twentieth century, the pronounced volcanic activity of Cotopaxi stopped. The top shines again with ice. The line of snow descends to the mark of 4700 meters above sea level, so most of the path passes through the forest, where hummingbirds, cougars, deer, llamas are found. Such a wealth of fauna is not surprising, because the volcano Kotopakhi and its environs are declared a reserve. Above is the tundra belt - mosses and lichens. And finally the eternal snows. The hiking trail is well marked, but it is recommended that you hire a professional guide. Of great interest are craters. Both the old, larger (800 m) and the new ones, in the middle of the first, have an ideal round shape, as if they were drawn by compasses by giant aliens.