Volcán Maipo, Stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, Chile-Argentina border
Volcán Maipo is a stratovolcano on the Chile-Argentina border in the Andes and stands 5,264 meters (17,270 feet) above sea level. The summit displays a symmetrical cone with lava flows and volcanic deposits spreading across the slopes, partly covered by snow and ice.
An eruption in 1826 formed the crater lake Laguna Diamante near the summit and left fresh ash fields around it. Eruptions in the following decades added more lava layers and reshaped the crater several times.
The name recalls the Maipo River, fed by glaciers on the slopes and supplying valleys below for centuries. Herders sometimes still bring animals to lower grazing areas at the foot of the mountain, where old cattle trails remain visible.
Climbers need experience with high-altitude conditions and should plan several days for acclimatization before starting the ascent. Wind and sudden temperature drops make warm clothing and weather-resistant gear necessary, even in summer.
Glaciers on the upper slopes feed the Maipo River, which supplies drinking water to Santiago and serves millions of people. The border line between both countries runs exactly over the summit ridge and divides the crater in half.
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