Aconcagua

Aconcagua
Aconcagua from park entrance
Highest point
Elevation	6,961 m (22,838 ft)
Prominence	6,961 m (22,838 ft)  Ranked 2nd
Isolation	16,518 kilometres (10,264 mi)
Listing	Seven Summits Country high point Ultra
Coordinates	32°39′12.35″S 70°00′39.9″W / 32.6534306°S 70.011083°W / -32.6534306; -70.011083Coordinates: 32°39′12.35″S 70°00′39.9″W / 32.6534306°S 70.011083°W / -32.6534306; -70.011083
Naming
Pronunciation	Spanish: [akoŋˈkaɣwa] /ˌækəŋˈkɑːɡwə/ or /ˌɑːkəŋˈkɑːɡwə/
Geography
Aconcagua Argentina
Location	Mendoza, Argentina
Parent range	Andes
Climbing
First ascent	1897 by Matthias Zurbriggen (first recorded ascent)
Easiest route	Scramble (North)

Aconcagua (Spanish pronunciation: [akoŋˈkaɣwa]) is the highest mountain outside Asia, at 6,961 metres (22,838 ft), and by extension the highest point in both the Western Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. It is located in the Andes mountain range, in the Mendoza Province, Argentina, and lies 112 kilometres (70 mi) northwest of its capital, the city of Mendoza. The summit is also located about 5 kilometers from San Juan Province and 15 kilometers from the international border with Chile. The mountain itself lies entirely within Argentina and immediately east of Argentina's border with Chile. Its nearest higher neighbor is Tirich Mir in the Hindu Kush, 16,520 kilometres (10,270 mi) away. It is one of the Seven Summits.

Aconcagua is bounded by the Valle de las Vacas to the north and east and the Valle de los Horcones Inferior to the west and south. The mountain and its surroundings are part of the Aconcagua Provincial Park. The mountain has a number of glaciers. The largest glacier is the Ventisquero Horcones Inferior at about 10 kilometers long, which descends from the south face to about 3600 meters in altitude near the Confluencia camp. Two other large glacier systems are the Ventisquero de las Vacas Sur and Glaciar Este/Ventisquero Relinchos system at about 5 kilometers long. The most well-known is the north-eastern or Polish Glacier, as it is a common route of ascent.

The origin of the name is contested; it is either from the Mapuche Aconca-Hue, which refers to the Aconcagua River and means "comes from the other side", the Quechua Ackon Cahuak, meaning "'Sentinel of Stone", the Quechua Anco Cahuac, meaning "White Sentinel", or the Aymara Janq'u Q'awa, meaning "White Ravine".