Llullaillaco is a stratovolcano at the border of
Argentina ( Salta Province ) and Chile . It lies in the
Puna de Atacama , a region of very
high volcanic peaks on a high plateau within the Atacama
Desert , one of the driest places in the world. Llullaillaco
is the second highest active volcano in the world, surpassed
only by Ojos del Salado . It is the fifth highest volcano in
the world, and it is also the seventh highest mountain of the
Western Hemisphere .
Llullaillaco follows the typical Puna de Atacama volcano
pattern: it is surrounded by large debris fields, and is
perpetually capped by snow and small glaciers despite the extremely
dry conditions of the region.
The peak's name comes from Aymara "murky water": llulla =
dirty and yacu = water. Other sources propose it to have
originated from Quechua Lullac = lie, Yacu = water:
"lying (or treacherous) water".
It has been confirmed that Incas climbed Llullaillaco in the
pre-Colombian period. Artifacts on the summit constitute the
highest evidence of human presence worldwide before the late
nineteenth century. Also, the huáqueros
may have also reached its summit and those of other mountains in
the region during their searches.
There are reports of eruptions in 1854, 1868, and 1877, possibly
causing the youngest lava flows in the area, which are easily
recognizable because of their very dark appearance.
Conditions of acknowledgement of the log :
Just post a photo of yourself or of
your GPS with Llullaillaco in the background.
Identify two lava flows which are different in appearance and
briefly describe the differences