Monday, April 26, 2010
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Cotopaxi is a stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, located about 45 kilometres (1 km = 0.621 statute miles) south of Quito, Ecuador, South America. It is the second highest summit in the country, reaching a height of 5897 m (19347 ft) Cotopaxi has an almost symmetrical cone that rises from a highland plain of about 3800 metres (12500 ft), with a width at its base of about 23 kilometres (14 mi). It has one of the few equatorial glaciers in the world, which starts at the height of 5000 metres (16400 ft). The mountain is clearly visible on the skyline from Quito. It is part of the chain of volcanoes around the Pacific plate known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. Cotopaxi means "Throne of Moon". The mountain was honored as a "Sacred Mountain" by local Andean Indians even prior to the beginning of Inca domination in the 15th century. It was worshiped as rain sender, that served as the guarantor of the land's fertility and at the same time it's summit was revered as a place where gods lived. The first European, who tried to climb the mountain was Alexander fon Humboldt in 1802, however he only reached a height of about 4500 m. In 1858 Moritz Wagner investigated the mountain, but he also could not reach summit. On November 27, 1872, geologist Wilhelm Rajss finally reached the summit of Cotopaxi. In 1873 it was summited by Moritz Alfons Shtjubel (Moritz Alphons Stübel), then in 1880 by Edward Whymper. Painters Rudolf Reschreiter and Hans Meyer reached the summit in 1903 and many of ...
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