Cotopaxi volcano, Active stratovolcano in Cotopaxi Province, Ecuador
The volcano reaches an elevation of 5,897 meters with a symmetrical cone shape rising from a highland plain at 3,800 meters altitude.
The 1877 eruption generated extensive pyroclastic flows and lahars that traveled over 100 kilometers, reaching both the Pacific Ocean and Amazon basin.
The name originates from Quechua language, where 'coto' translates to neck and 'paxi' means moon, referring to the crater's shape.
The Jose F. Ribas mountain refuge at 4,864 meters provides shelter and acclimatization facilities for mountaineers preparing their ascent.
The volcano maintains permanent snow coverage and contains one of the few equatorial glaciers in the world, starting at 5,000 meters elevation.
Location: Cotopaxi Province
Location: Latacunga Canton
Elevation above the sea: 5,897 m
Made from material: tuff
GPS coordinates: -0.68056,-78.43777
Latest update: May 26, 2025 19:15
This collection brings together active volcanoes located on multiple continents, from Cotopaxi in the Ecuadorian Andes to Mount Fuji in Japan, including Vesuvius in Italy and Mauna Loa in Hawaii. Each site demonstrates different geological processes: stratovolcanoes like Mount Saint Helens and Etna produce explosive eruptions, while Hawaiian shield volcanoes generate flowing lava that can travel long distances. The selection also includes sites that have marked history through their destructive power, such as Krakatoa, whose 1883 eruption caused tens of thousands of casualties, or Vesuvius, which buried Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD 79. Other volcanoes like Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull have recently shown their ability to disrupt human activities globally. These locations offer insight into how volcanic activity shapes landscapes and influences nearby populations.
Ecuador contains photographic subjects from Quito's colonial streets to Galápagos Islands landscapes. The country features architectural monuments, volcanoes, crater lakes, waterfalls and national parks. Locations include the National Vow Basilica, Cotopaxi Volcano, Quilotoa Lake and cultural centers like Otavalo Market.
Church of Saint Francis
52 km
Virgin of El Panecillo
51.1 km
Historic Center of Quito
51.9 km
Cotopaxi National Park
406 m
Cathedral of Quito
51.9 km
Antisana volcano
39.5 km
Iglesia de Santo Domingo
51.5 km
Monument to Independence
51.9 km
Antisana National Park
41.9 km
Illiniza volcano
31.6 km
El Chalupas
21 km
Iglesia de El Sagrario
51.9 km
Estadio Chillogallo
46.3 km
Church of San Agustín
51.9 km
Refugio de vida silvestre Pasochoa
26.2 km
Sucre House
51.7 km
City Museum
51.6 km
Corazón volcano
29.8 km
Rumiñahui volcano
13.1 km
Volcano Atacazo
41.8 km
Casa del Alabado Pre-Columbian Art Museum
51.8 km
Centro Cultural Itchimbía
51.5 km
Centro Cultural Metropolitano
51.9 km
El Carmen Alto church
51.7 km
Palacio Municipal, Quito
51.9 km
Palacio de La Recoleta
50.7 km
Teatro Bolívar
51.7 km
Pre-Columbian Art Museum House of Praise
51.8 kmReviews
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