Cotopaxi Volcano Summit Climb - May 2007
Length: 5:51
Description: Cotopaxi is Ecuador's highest active volcano at 5897m, located in the Eastern Cordillera. It is a stratovolcano (very similar to Mt. Fuji or Mt. Sashta) with an almost perfectly symmetrical cone, rising from a highland plain of 3800m and covered by a mighty glacier starting at a height of 5000m.
The main danger of a huge eruption of Cotopaxi would be the ensuring flow of mud and ice from its glacier (lahars). Computer models calculated lahars of eight meters coming down by way of River Pita to the valley of Los Chillos, nowadays a main suburban area of Quito with a population of more than 100 000 people living there. In the event of a huge explosion, not much would be left from those settlement in the valley. Another major city in danger would be Latacunga to the southwest of Cotopaxi and all the small farming villages skirting the mountain. Many experts think that another eruptive stage might be coming very soon;)
Not technically challenging, requires good stamina;)
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Author: distantdream
Source: YouTube
