Socompa

Socompa is a stratovolcano located in the Andes mountains of northern Chile, rising to approximately 6,300 meters in elevation. The mountain displays a steep conical shape with active gas vents and steam emissions visible near its summit.

The volcano formed as part of the Andean volcanic chain thousands of years ago. A major landslide occurred on its northwestern slope approximately 7,200 years ago, dispersing debris across a vast area.

The native populations of the Andean region maintain connections to the mountain through their traditional beliefs and ancestral knowledge of the land.

Access requires specialized mountaineering equipment and proper high-altitude acclimatization, as the volcano sits in a remote region of the Andes. Visitors need good physical conditioning and should allow time to adjust to the elevation before attempting ascent.

Extremophile organisms thrive in the harsh conditions of the volcano's fumaroles at elevations near 6,000 meters. These life forms demonstrate how life adapts to some of Earth's most severe environments.