Few know where the Cotopaxi Volcano on the map, but many saw this brilliant, handsome in photos and posters, since it is the "hallmark" of Ecuador.By type is a stratovolcano, with distinct 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 Orietal.The height of this volcano is 5911 meters above sea level.Solid, but still not enough to enter the top most spectacular peaks of the world.The Cotopaxi is so interesting for tourists?Find out if esteem further.
fire-breathing bruiser
geographical coordinates of the volcano Cotopaxi are as follows: 0 ° 41'03 "south latitude and 78 ° 26'14" west longitude.That is, it is located near the equator.But despite the tropical heat, the top of the volcano is always icebound.It is too high, so that the sun could melt the equatorial mountain snow.Shine and gave the name of the top of the volcano.Quechua Indians called him Cotopaxi.Translated, it means "brilliant mountain."But this is not the highest peak of Ecuador.For example, the Chimborazo volcano rises above sea level to 6310 meters.So what is remarkable Cotopaxi?Its greater brother has long been asleep forever.A Cotopaxi occasionally erupts from the crater of the pillars of sulfur, which gives reason scientists say that it is - the highest active volcano, not only in Ecuador, but the entire planet.
famous conquerors tops
Shining Mountain, at times turning into the abyss of hell belching flames, attracted the attention of Europeans.The first attempt to climb to the top took its German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt and the French botanist Aimé Bonpland.In 1802 they arrived in Quito to explore the three volcanoes - Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, and Pichincha.It was possible not all that desirable.I remained subdued only Pichincha.But this study yielded the results: the researchers found that the relief of the planet forming processes occurring deep within its bowels.Cotopaxi Volcano was too tough nut to crack for the next two expeditions - Boussingault (in 1831) and Wagner (1858).Luck smiled but William Rice, who climbed to the summit of 28 November 1872.A year later he repeated the feat Shtubel.
Blonde, but very dangerous
Glacier, crowning the top of a snow-white, creates the illusion of security.But the volcano Cotopaxi is not dead, just dormant.During the time in Latin America, Europeans arrived, it erupted more than fifty times.Sometimes they were innocent emission of steam, but there were times when the vagaries of the volcano resulted in casualties.The largest eruption was in 1532, 1742, 1768, 1864, 1877 and 1940.Since Cotopaxi if asleep.The last eruption occurred in 1976 and was very small.What is so dangerous Cotopaxi?In addition to the lava, ash, volcanic bombs, eruption leads to a momentary melting of glaciers.Huge masses of water cascading from the slopes in the form of mudflows.That they cause mass destruction and casualties.
The Cotopaxi volcano is remembered in history?
eruption in 1768 in the annals as the most pernicious.In early April, he rose from the crater of a giant plume of steam and ash.This circumstance did not cause a stir, but in vain.Already on April 4 the volcano began spewing sulfur, lava and pyroclastic materials.Magmatic activity has created an earthquake that completely destroyed the nearby town of Latacunga and neighboring villages.In the capital of Ecuador, Quito in the afternoon it was dark so that people could not see his hands, even if the tray close to their face.But in the vicinity of the mountain no one was in need of artificial light: a volcano spewed from its crater pillars of fire.Gunfire rattled as by gun shots.Later mudslide completed the destruction of Latacunga.Products eruption found in the Amazon and the coast of the Pacific Ocean, that is hundreds of kilometers from the place where is the volcano Cotopaxi.
not dangerous to ascend the mountain now?
As mentioned earlier, since the beginning of the twentieth century a pronounced volcanic activity ceased Cotopaxi.The top of the ice shines again.Snow line descends to the level of 4700 meters above sea level, so most of the way goes through the forest, where there are hummingbirds, cougars, deer, llamas.Such a wealth of fauna is not necessary to be surprised, because the volcano Cotopaxi and its environs declared a nature reserve.Above is a belt of tundra - mosses and lichens.Finally eternal snow.The hiking trail is well marked, but it is recommended to hire a professional guide.Of great interest are the craters.Like the old, larger (800 m), and the new, in the middle of the first to have a perfect round shape, as if they drew a compass giant aliens.
