Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi volcano
Elevation: 5,897 m (19,347 ft) above sea level

Amongst the highest active volcanoes in the world and one of my favourite places to visit. You just can't help feeling so small and powerless next to such giant. To give you an idea how big it really is you should remember that I took this photo at about 3,800 m (12,467 ft) high. The glaciar starts to appear around 5,000 m (16,404 ft) above sea level - so all that snow is only 897m (2,942 ft) of the total height of the volcano!

I chatted to a local cab driver about the danger for the inhabitants of the surrounding areas - if Cotopaxi erupts the ice that melts during the heating of the cone will create powerful mudflows destroying everything in it's path. The mudflows could reach the valleys around Quito 40 - 50 miles away in about 20 minutes. No threat for the capital (my hometown) but disastrous for the small mountain towns.

Something that really struck me was how this local man referred to the Andes as 'Papa' (father) or 'Mama' (mother). He told me how in the south 'Mama Tungurahua' was still 'awake' after 10 years of activity and how he hopes 'Papa Cotopaxi' doesn't 'wake up'. Amazing to see that kind of respect and admiration for nature and it's power.


My dad and I at Cotopaxi



Cotopaxi - Ecuador
September 2008