Cotopaxi is the world's highest active volcano and is 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.

Click on the links below for more information and photos of Cotopaxi.

Google maps link to a satellite image of Cotopaxi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotopax

http://www.igepn.edu.ec/vulcanologia/cotopaxi/cotopaxi.htm

Smithsonian, Global Volcanism Program, Cotopaxi

NASA Earth Explorer page

Cotopaxi: Etymology

Photographs of the Andes

Climbing Cotopaxi

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