Nevado Sajama, Extinct stratovolcano in Sajama National Park, Bolivia
Nevado Sajama is an extinct stratovolcano in Sajama National Park, Bolivia, reaching 6,542 meters above sea level. Its cone-shaped summit carries several lava flows and permanent ice fields that begin around 5,600 meters elevation.
Joseph Prem and Wilfrid Kuehm reached the summit in August 1939 as the first climbers via the southeast flank. Later expeditions explored different routes and documented the volcanic structure built from andesite rock.
Local Aymara people refer to this peak as a sacred mountain and still perform offerings at its base. Visitors can see these ceremonial sites where families leave coca leaves and small tokens before climbing.
Most climbs take two to three days from the base village of Sajama and require acclimatization along with warm clothing for the ice fields. Crampons and ropes are necessary for the upper section where wind can become strong.
The queñoa forests on the lower slopes grow up to 5,200 meters elevation, forming the highest forest zone on Earth. These gnarled trees survive thanks to their thick bark and slow growth rate in the thin air.
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