Lanín

Lanín is a mountain in the Andes range on the border between Argentina and Chile. Its snow-covered slopes rise above forests of southern beech trees and form a slender cone visible from far away.

European explorers reached the area in the nineteenth century and mapped the volcanic peaks that indigenous peoples had known for thousands of years. The eruption in the early twentieth century was the last documented activity from deep inside the mountain.

The Mapuche people named the peak, and the word refers to something that dies or runs out when trying to reach the top. The volcano appears in ceremonies and stories of indigenous communities who still live in the surrounding valleys.

Hikers need permits from park authorities on the Argentine or Chilean side depending on the route. Early morning starts help with cooler temperatures and firmer snow underfoot.

The snow line shifts through the seasons so the ice cap shrinks smaller in summer months. The summit crater has no open vent but shows only gentle depressions in the snow.