Calabozos, Volcanic caldera in Maule Region, Chile.
Calabozos is a volcanic caldera in the Chilean Andes, located in the Maule Region at an elevation of around 3,500 meters. The structure is made up of thick layers of volcanic tuff that were deposited over many thousands of years, giving the area its current shape.
The complex formed through several major eruptions over a period of roughly one million years, each one depositing large amounts of volcanic material across the surrounding region. The last known period of significant activity shaped the surface that visitors see today.
Local herders have known this area for generations, using the surrounding grasslands during seasonal migrations with their animals. The name Calabozos means "dungeons" in Spanish, likely referring to the deep, enclosed shape of the caldera.
The area has no roads or permanent infrastructure, so reaching it requires traveling on foot or by horseback through remote, high-altitude terrain. Anyone planning a visit should be experienced with isolated mountain environments and carry enough supplies for the full trip.
At the base of the resurgent dome, a series of hot springs with widely varying temperatures can be found, including the boiling waters of Baños de Llolli. These geothermal features are one of the few visible signs that volcanic energy is still active beneath the surface.
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