Quilotoa

Short description: Westernmost volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes

Quilotoa

Panorama of the lake-filled Quilotoa caldera.

Highest point
Elevation| 3,914 m (12,841 ft) [1]
Prominence| 302 m (991 ft)
Listing| List of volcanoes in Ecuador
Coordinates|  [ ⚑ ] : 0°51′S 78°54′W﻿ / ﻿0.85°S 78.9°W﻿ / -0.85; -78.9 [1]
Geography
Location| Pujilí Canton, Cotopaxi Province, Ecuador
Parent range| Andes
Geology
Age of rock| approx. 40,000 years
Mountain type| Caldera
Last eruption| 1280[1]

Quilotoa (Spanish pronunciation: [kiloˈto.a]) is a water-filled crater lake and the most western volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. The 3-kilometre (2 mi)-wide caldera was formed by the collapse of this dacite volcano following a catastrophic VEI-6 eruption about 800 years ago, which produced pyroclastic flows and lahars that reached the Pacific Ocean, and spread an airborne deposit of volcanic ash throughout the northern Andes.[1] This last eruption followed a dormancy period of 14,000 years and is known as the 1280 Plinian eruption.[2] The fourth (of seven) eruptive phase was phreatomagmatic, indicating that a Crater lake was already present at that time.[3] The caldera has since accumulated a 250-metre-deep (820 ft) crater lake, which has a greenish color as a result of dissolved minerals. Fumaroles are found on the lake floor and hot springs occur on the eastern flank of the volcano.[1]

Quilotoa is a site of growing popularity. The route to the "summit" (the small town of Quilotoa) is generally traveled by hired truck or bus from the town of Zumbahua 17 kilometres (11 mi) to the South, or more commonly by bus from Latacunga. Visitors have to pay two US dollars each to enter Quilotoa. There are a number of simple hostels in the immediate area offering services such as mules and guides. Activities include a four to five-hour hike around the caldera (whose diameter is just over 3 kilometres (2 mi)). The caldera rim is highly irregular and reaches its maximum elevations 3,810 metres (12,500 ft) to the N, 3,894 metres (12,776 ft) to the NW and 3,915 metres (12,844 ft) to the SE, at three lava domes. The 10-kilometre (6 mi) hike is sandy and steep in places and can be quite taxing, particularly if there is fog.

It is a half-hour hike down from the viewpoint (and 1- to 2-hour hike back up the 280-metre (919 ft) vertical ascent), and very basic lodging down in its bowl. Camping is permitted at the bottom of the crater, but there is no potable water (except half-litre bottles sold at the hostel)[4]

The lake surface is located at 3,500 metres (11,483 ft) asl. The total volume of water stored in Lake Quilotoa is 0.35 cubic kilometres (0.084 cu mi). According to local inhabitants, the lake level has been slowly declining over the last 10 years. Travertine deposits occur along the shore up to 10 metres (33 ft) above the lake level (in the year 2000).[3]

The village of Quilotoa and the associated crater is also a popular destination within the Quilotoa Loop and is a common starting point for the “Quilotoa Traverse”, a multi-day village to village hiking route.

## See also

* Volcanic crater lake

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Quilotoa". Smithsonian Institution. https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=352060.
2. ↑ Patricia A. Mothes, Minard L. Hall (2008) "The plinian fallout associated with Quilotoa's 800 yr BP eruption, Ecuadorian Andes", Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, Volume 176, Issue 1, 10 September 2008, Pages 56-69
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Water chemistry of Lake Quilotoa (Ecuador) and assessment of natural hazards". Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 97: 271–285. 2000. http://publiespe.espe.edu.ec/articulos/geologia/quilotoa/Quilotoa.pdf. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
4. ↑ Viva Quilotoa Travel Guide site visit Jan 31, 2009

## External links

| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quilotoa.

|

* Travel information
* Jan 2009 Updated travel info
* Events in Quilotoa

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Andean volcanoes

Northern Volcanic Zone
(6° N – 3° S)|

* Paipa-Iza
* Romeral
* Cerro Bravo
* Nevado del Ruiz
* Nevado del Tolima
* Nevado del Huila
* Puracé
* Doña Juana
* Galeras
* Azufral
* Chiles
* Cayambe
* Reventador
* Pichincha
* Antisana
* Aliso
* Soche
* Illiniza
* Cotopaxi
* Quilotoa
* Chimborazo
* Tungurahua
* Licto volcanic field
* Sangay

Central Volcanic Zone
(14°–27° S)|

* Quimsachata
* Auquihuato
* Firura
* Sara Sara
* Solimana
* Coropuna
* Hualca Hualca
* Sabancaya
* Huambo volcanic field
* Ampato
* Andagua volcanic field
* Chachani
* Misti
* Ubinas
* Pichu Pichu
* Huaynaputina
* Ticsani
* Tutupaca
* Yucamane
* Purupuruni
* Casiri
* Tacora
* Taapaca
* Parinacota
* Lauca
* Tata Sabaya
* Isluga
* Irruputuncu
* Olca-Paruma
* Aucanquilcha‎
* Azufre
* Sairecabur
* Licancabur
* Pacana
* Lascar
* Chiliques
* Aracar
* Socompa
* Llullaillaco
* Lastarria
* Galán
* San Francisco
* Cueros de Purulla
* Incahuasi
* Ojos del Salado

Southern Volcanic Zone
(33°–46° S)|

* Tupungato
* Tupungatito
* Maipo
* Calabozos
* Descabezado Grande
* Cerro Azul
* Nevado de Longaví
* Nevados de Chillán
* Antuco
* Copahue
* Callaqui
* Lonquimay
* Llaima
* Sollipulli
* Villarrica
* Quetrupillán
* Lanín
* Mocho-Choshuenco
* Carrán-Los Venados
* Puyehue-Cordón Caulle
* Casablanca
* Osorno
* Calbuco
* Hornopirén
* Huequi
* Michinmahuida
* Chaitén
* Corcovado
* Mentolat
* Cay
* Macá
* Hudson

Austral Volcanic Zone
(49°–55° S)|

* Lautaro
* Viedma
* Aguilera
* Reclus
* Burney
* Fueguino

Note: volcanoes are ordered by latitude from north to south

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