Nevado Tres Cruces Central, Stratovolcano in Atacama Region, Chile
Nevado Tres Cruces Central is a stratovolcano in the Andes rising to about 6,600 meters with a crater roughly 1 kilometer wide at its summit. This dormant peak forms part of a volcanic chain and sits in the high plateau region between Chile and Argentina.
The volcano last erupted roughly 28,000 years ago and has remained dormant ever since. Polish mountaineers successfully summited it in the 1930s, establishing the peak as a notable climbing destination.
The peak is called Nevado, a Spanish word for snow-covered mountains that reflects how the Andes have been named for centuries in this region. The three crosses referenced in its name refer to distinctive rock formations visible during a climb.
Climbing here demands thorough preparation for extreme high-altitude conditions where oxygen levels are thin and weather can change rapidly. Access routes typically begin from lower elevations on the Argentine side or through mountain passes in the Chilean border zone.
This peak ranks as the second-highest mountain located entirely within Chilean borders, even though taller summits rise nearby along the Argentine boundary. This distinction makes it geographically significant for the country's mountain landscape.
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