Coropuna

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nevado Coropuna
Aerial photo of Nevado Coropuna from the south, with the true summit at left.
Elevation	6,377 m (20,922 ft)
Location	Southern Peru
Range	Andes
Prominence	2,208 m (7,244 ft)
Coordinates	15°31′S, 72°39′W
Type	Stratovolcano complex
Last eruption	Unknown
First ascent	Inca, pre-Columbian
Easiest route	snow / glacier climb

Nevado Coropuna is the largest and highest volcano in Peru, attaining an impressive elevation of 6,377 metres (20,922 ft) (some maps show it as high as 6,425 metres (21,079 ft)). It is located about 150 km (90 mi) northwest of Arequipa, the second largest city in Peru.

This massive ice-covered stratovolcano complex has a summit plateau which extends over 12 x 20 km (8 x 13 mi), with six separate summit cones rising above it. The true summit is at the northwest end of the plateau, although the southwest summit may be equal or greater in height depending on the depth of seasonal snow. A permanent ice cap of about 130 square kilometres (50 sq mi) in area covers the summit region, extending down to roughly 5,300 metres (17,400 ft) on the north side and 4,800 metres (15,700 ft) on the south. Vertical relief on the south flank exceeds 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) over a distance of less than 15 km (9 mi).

The name Coropuna means "shrine on the plateau" in Quechua. Remains of Inca clothing have been found near 6,000 m (20,000 ft), providing evidence for pre-Columbian ascents.

[edit] References

Biggar, John (2005). The Andes: A Guide for Climbers (3rd ed.). Andes Publishing (Scotland), 304 pp. ISBN 0-9536087-2-7.
González-Ferrán, Oscar (1995). Volcanes de Chile. Santiago, Chile: Instituto Geográfico Militar, 640 pp. ISBN 956-202-054-1. (in Spanish; also includes volcanoes of Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru)
De Silva, Shanaka L.; Francis, Peter (1991). Volcanoes of the Central Andes. Springer-Verlag, 216 pp. ISBN 3540537066.
Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program: Coropuna