Cotopaxi is considered one of the world's highest activevolcanoes
andis
at 5897m Ecuador's second highest mountain.
Loosely translated from the Quechua,
Cotopaxi means
"Smooth Neck of the Moon" and was first climbed by the German geologist Wilhelm Reiss and
the Colombian Angel Escobar
in 1872.
At that time they did not need any ice
climbing gear as there was an ice-free trail up a recent
lava flow. Wilhelm
Reiss
aim was not to be the first up there
but for purely geological reasons.
For more information of its volcanic history and current status,
click to information.volcano.cotopaxi
of our Ecuador-Travelnet.
If you are interested in climbing it, click to
tour.climbing.
