cotopaxi and the andes
The Andes stretch for nearly 9,000 kilometers across the western edge of South America. The mountain range’s formation began about 170 million years ago, when Nazca plate was subducted under the South American plate. As is typical in subduction zones, a volcanic arc began to form along the western edge of the South American plate due to rising magma; this was accompanied by uplift from the subduction process as well as hydrothermal intrusions. The majority of the uplifting process, however, did not occur until approximately 25 million years ago. The same processes of uplift and erosion are still occurring today (Stewart and Velásquez, 2017).
Cotopaxi, one of the world’s largest volcanoes, is located in the Ecuadorian Andes, just over 50 km from Quito. While the last significant eruption took place in 1904, a minor eruption took place only 2 years ago in 2015 (Britannica, 2017). Although it would be wise to exercise caution near the volcano, I believe we should still visit. The last eruption to take place before 2015 was in 1940, and before that 1904 (Britannica, 2017). Assuming this ~40-80 year pattern holds true, we shouldn’t experience any volcanic activity from Cotopaxi during our visit in January.
References
Britannica (2017) Cotopaxi. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc.
Stewart, N.R., and Velásquez, M.T. (2017) Andes Mountains. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc.
Cotopaxi, one of the world’s largest volcanoes, is located in the Ecuadorian Andes, just over 50 km from Quito. While the last significant eruption took place in 1904, a minor eruption took place only 2 years ago in 2015 (Britannica, 2017). Although it would be wise to exercise caution near the volcano, I believe we should still visit. The last eruption to take place before 2015 was in 1940, and before that 1904 (Britannica, 2017). Assuming this ~40-80 year pattern holds true, we shouldn’t experience any volcanic activity from Cotopaxi during our visit in January.
References
Britannica (2017) Cotopaxi. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc.
Stewart, N.R., and Velásquez, M.T. (2017) Andes Mountains. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc.