Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi (Spanish pronunciation: [kotoˈpaksi]) is an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, located near Latacunga city of Cotopaxi Province, about 50 km (31 mi) south of Quito, and 31 km (19 mi) northeast of the city of Latacunga, Ecuador. It is the second highest summit in Ecuador, reaching a height of 5,897 m (19,347 ft). Cotopaxi is among the highest active volcanoes in the world.
| Cotopaxi | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,897 m (19,347 ft) |
| Prominence | 2,500 m (8,202 ft) |
| Isolation | 96.67 km (60.07 mi) |
| Listing | Ultra |
| Coordinates | 0°40′50″S 78°26′16″W |
| Geography | |
| Location | Cotopaxi, Latacunga, Ecuador |
| Parent range | Andes |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano, Historical |
| Volcanic arc/belt | South Volcanic Zone |
| Last eruption | 2023 (ongoing) |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 28 November 1872 by Wilhelm Reiss and Ángel Escobar |
| Easiest route | North side: Glacier/Snow Climb (Grade PD-) |
Cotopaxi is known to have erupted 87 times, resulting in the creation of numerous valleys formed by lahars (mudflows) around the volcano. An ongoing eruption began on 21 October 2022.
At the end of February 2023, the Geophysical Institute of Ecuador reported that Cotopaxi had produced around 8,000 earthquakes since October 21, 2022, amounting to 1,600 events per month.