Cotopaxi

Volcanoes are an interesting natural phenomenon. They are openings on the earth’s surface that allow hot materials from the interior surface to escape out. Volcanoes are known to either cause an eruption due to the brewing pressure or cause a gentle flow of the material known as lava. Cotopaxi is a type of active stratovolcano located in the Andes Mountains in Latacunga city of Cotopaxi Province, Ecuador. It is amongst the highest active volcanoes in the world and has so far erupted more than 50 times since 1738. It is a prominent tourist attraction, inviting adventurous tourists from across the globe. The topic provides detailed information on the volcano and its current status.

Cotopaxi is an active stratovolcano

Volcanoes form an opening in the planet’s surface which leads to an eruption of molten rock, hot gases or magma material. Repeated eruptions of volcanoes lead to the formation of hills that contain layers of rock and ash. An active volcano consists of a molten rock known as magma. Pressure build-up leads to the flow of magma from the inside the surface of the earth to the outside of the surface. The flowing magma is known as lava.

• It is an active volcano consisting of magma underneath it. 

• It is a conical and tall volcano formed by layers of hardened lava, volcanic ash and tephra. It is steep and has a crater at the summit.

• The lava released from Cotopaxi cools down and hardens. This has prevented its spread due to high viscosity.

• The eruptions from Cotopaxi have led to the formation of several mudflows around the volcanoes.

• The last eruption from Cotopaxi was in August 2015, and it lasted till January 2016.

Location and Description of the Cotopaxi Volcano

• It is located in the city of Cotopaxi province in Latacunga, Ecuador. It is in the Cotopaxi National Park and at an elevation of 19, 347 feet. 

• It is located 50 km south of Quito and 31 km northeast of Latacunga in Ecuador. 

• It is part of the Pacific plate volcanic chain known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. It has a base width of around 23 km and rises from the highland plain at an elevation of 12,470 ft. 

• Cotopaxi consists of an 800 × 550 m wide crater with a depth of 820 ft. It consists of two crater rims, which are concentric circles. The outer crater rim is free of snow, whereas the interior crater is covered with ice cornice. 

• The local beliefs from the city of Cotopaxi Province consider the mountain sacred and worship it for rain and to maintain the fertility of the land. The crater of the stratovolcano resembles a crescent moon. 

Eruptions from the Cotopaxi Volcano

• There have been multiple eruptions from the stratovolcano with over 87 eruptions. This makes it the most active volcano in Ecuador.

• The first volcanic eruption recorded from Cotopaxi was in the year 1534, leading to the deposition of the ash layer in the El Cajas National Park.

• Cotopaxi witnessed the most violent eruptions in the 17th and 18th centuries that damaged the town of Latacunga. 

• The 1877 eruption from Cotopaxi led to an enormous volcano’s mudflow called lahars. The mudflow travelled almost 100 km from the volcano to the cities of Cotopaxi Province. The lava flow melted the ice caps with mudflows flowing into the Pacific Ocean and Amazon Basin. 

• The last volcanic eruption from the Cotopaxi was in August 2015 that led to the flow of two large steam eruptions. This continued till January 2016. 

• Due to the active volcano, the region is prone to earthquakes and a high rate of sulphur dioxide emission. 

Recreation and Tourism 

The cities of Cotopaxi Province close to the active volcano have become a popular tourist place. The province is full of incredible places, natural beauty, and the gigantic stratovolcano. Standing at an altitude of 19, 347 feet, Cotopaxi is the second-highest summit in Ecuador. It is the most popular volcano with a perfect conical shape. There is high adventure tourism in the Cotopaxi National Park that includes climbing to the base of the volcano. The route through the Cotopaxi National Park is a beautiful long drive and is a part of the longest road in the world, the Panamerican Highway. Alexander von Humboldt was the first to attempt climbing the Cotopaxi volcano in 1802 but could not reach the summit. In 1872, German geologist Wilhelm Reiss and his partner Angel Escobar were the first to summit the volcano. It is a popular spot for trekkers and climbers. After the last volcanic eruption in 2015, it was reopened for climbing on 7th October 2017. 

Conclusion

Cotopaxi is an active volcano located in the Cotopaxi National Park and makes one of the most phenomenal natural beauty in Ecuador. With over 87 eruptions, the stratovolcano stands strong, attracting thousands of visitors and trekkers every year. It is located in the Andes Mountains and is a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, an active volcanic chain around the Pacific plate. Cotopaxi National Park is the second-largest national park in Ecuador spread across an area of 33,393 hectares and has a plethora of diversity. The volcano is a significant part of the national park and continues to draw the attention of people. In summary, the active volcano is periodically unstable, leading to the flow of magma and mudflow down the mountain.