Cotopaxi
| Cotopaxi | |
|---|---|
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| Elevation: | 5,897 m (19,347 ft) |
| Latitude: | 0° 40′ S |
| Longitude: | 78° 26′ W |
| Location: | Ecuador |
| Range: | Andes |
| Type: | Stratovolcano |
| First ascent: | 1872 by Wilhelm Reiss and party |
| Easiest route: | ice climb |
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Cotopaxi is a volcano in Ecuador, the second highest in the country, (the highest one being the Chimborazo) and one of the highest active volcanoes in the world (the highest active one is assumed to be Ojos del Salado in Chile). It is situated about 50 km south of Quito. There have been more than 50 eruptions of Cotopaxi since 1738. Cotopaxi is more than 3,000 meters higher than its surroundings. The base of this stratovolcano has a width about 23 km.
Numerous valleys formed by powerful lahars (mudflows) surround the volcano. Lahars can cause severe damage even 100 km away from the volcano. This poses a high risk to the local population, their settlements and fields (the city Latacunga has been completely destroyed at least twice in its history). Interferometry is especially useful in monitoring such dangerous volcanoes. Highly accurate observations of changes in volcanoes from space can provide vital parameters for early warning systems, without risk to the lives of scientists.
There was a major eruption in 1903 through 1904, and some minor activity in 1942. Other than that there were no eruptions in the 20th century.
Cotopaxi is also a province of Ecuador.
External links and source
- NASA Earth Explorer page
- Cotopaxi, Tour 2003
- Cotopaxi (Information about Cotopaxi and a virtual tour of Ecuador)