Pichincha
|
|
Pichincha is an active volcano in the country of Ecuador who's capital Quito wraps around its eastern slopes. The province in which it is located takes its name from the mountain, as is the case for many of the other provinces in Ecuador (Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Imbabura, etc).
| Pichincha | |
|---|---|
Missing image Pichincha.jpg The "Loma de las Antenas", the northeasternmost peak of the Pichincha, and an Avianca Boeing 757-200 landing at Quito's airport (2003 photo) | |
| Elevation: | 4794 m |
| Coordinates: | Template:Coor dm |
| Location: | Ecuador |
| Range: | Andes |
| Type: | Stratovolcano |
| First ascent: | |
| Last eruption: | 1999 |
In October of 1999, the volcano erupted and covered the city with several inches of ash. Prior to that, the last major eruption was in 1660, when about a foot of ash fell on the city. The mountain's two highest peaks are the Guagua (15,695ft/4,794 m), which means "child" in Quechua and the Rucu (15413ft/4,698m), which means "old person". The active caldera is in the Guagua, on the western side of the mountain. Both peaks are visible from the city of Quito and are easily climbed. Guagua is usually accessed from the village Lloa outside of Quito.
External link
- http://www.igepn.edu.ec/vulcanologia/pichincha/pichincha.htm
- CVO Website - Ecuador Volcanoes and Volcanics (http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Ecuador/description_ecuador_volcanoes.html)
- Pichincha - Quito, flight with paraglider 2003 (http://gerdbreitenbach.de/anden/ecuador_1/quito_fly_en.html)
- Pichincha: Etymology (http://www.ecuaworld.com/trekking/pichinchasc.htm)
- Photographs of the Andes (http://www.ecuador365.com/)de:Pichincha