Tronador, Stratovolcano in southern Andes, Chile
Tronador is a stratovolcano on the border between Chile and Argentina with three peaks rising to 3,491 meters (11,453 feet) above sea level. The slopes are covered by seven glaciers that spread snow and ice across the rock walls throughout the year.
Hermann Claussen reached the summit on January 29, 1934, becoming the first person to stand on the highest point and spending the night there. Before him, several expeditions had tried to reach the top but failed due to technical difficulties and changing weather conditions.
The name refers to the sounds of ice blocks breaking away from the glaciers and crashing into the valleys below. Hikers often hear this thunder during their visits on clear days.
Access is from Bariloche via Route 40 in Argentina or from Puerto Montt through Lake Todos los Santos in Chile. The best time to visit is between December and March when trails have less snow and the weather is more stable.
The Ventisquero Negro is a dark glacier whose surface is covered with volcanic rock, forming a sharp contrast with the white ice fields of the other glaciers. Its meltwater feeds the Manso River, which flows through the surrounding forests toward Chile.
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