Nevado San Francisco, Stratovolcano in Atacama and Catamarca regions, Chile-Argentina border
Nevado San Francisco is a stratovolcano located on the Chile-Argentina border that rises to 6016 meters above sea level. The structure combines multiple volcanic cones and lava formations spread across a significant area.
The volcano formed millions of years ago through repeated eruptions in the Andes mountain chain. Mountaineer Walther Penck reached the summit for the first time in 1913, marking an early documented ascent of this remote peak.
The summit contains circular structures from pre-colonial periods, indicating the presence of indigenous civilizations at these high-altitude locations.
Visitors need several days of altitude acclimatization before attempting an ascent. The best climbing season is early summer when weather conditions are most stable.
The eastern slopes display dark basaltic cones while the western face shows lighter colored lava domes. This contrast reflects different eruption patterns that occurred at different times in the volcano's history.
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