Ojos del Salado, which is located on
the Chilean/Argentine border,has one substantial claim to fame.
The highest active volcano in the world, it towers over the altiplano at
a breath-taking 22,615 ft.
Important facts about Ojos del Salado
- As well as taking the title for highest active volcano in the world, it also counts as Chile’s highest mountain – and receives numerous visitors per year looking to summit its formidable peak.
- It is located in the Nevado de Tres Cruces National Park, 180-miles (290 km) from the town of Copiapó, in the Atacama Region of Chile.
- A stratovolcano (characterized by its conical shape composed of layers of lava, pumice and volcanic ash), it is believed by scientists to have last erupted between 1,000 and 1,500 years ago – although ash was ejected from the volcano as recently as 1993.
- The Spanish name “Ojos del Salado” means “Eyes of Salt” and describes the round, salt lagoons that are found on the side of the volcano.
- These lagoons are home to flamingos who fish for algae and krill in the salt waters.
- One of them, Laguna Verde, which sits at 14,400 ft. (4,400m) above sea level, is actually a thermal spring fed by the volcanic activity in the area.
- The crater lake at the top of the Ojos del Salado mountainhas an elevation of 20,960 feet (6,390m) making it thought to be the highest lake in the world.
- Ojos del Salado actually has two summits: one in Chile and one in Argentina, although the difference in elevation of the two summits is less than 3 ft. (1m).