Carihuairazo

Carihuairazo
Carihuayrazo left of bigger Chimborazo as seen from the north
Highest point
Elevation	5,018 m (16,463 ft)
Prominence	620 metres (2,030 ft)
Coordinates	01°24′25″S 78°45′00″W / 1.40694°S 78.75000°W / -1.40694; -78.75000Coordinates: 01°24′25″S 78°45′00″W / 1.40694°S 78.75000°W / -1.40694; -78.75000
Geography
Carihuairazo Ecuador
Parent range	Andes, Cordillera Occidental
Topo map	IGM, CT-ÑIV-C1 [1]
Geology
Age of rock	Paleogene (Gomez 1994)
Mountain type	Caldera
Last eruption	Unknown
Climbing
First ascent	1951 A. Eichler, H.L. Uribe, J. Morawiecki
Easiest route	glacier/snow/rock climb AD

Mount Carihuairazo (also Carihuayrazo) is a volcanic caldera neighboured by Ecuador's highest mountain Chimborazo.

Carihuairazo is located in the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes of central Ecuador, 150 km (93 mi) south-southwest of the capital Quito. Its neighboured by 6,310 m high Chimborazo. The nearest cities are Riobamba (~30 km to the southeast), Ambato (~30 km to the northeast) and Guaranda (~30 km to the southwest). Carihuairazo's 1.5 km wide heavy eroded caldera opens to the east.

The Carihuairazo forms part of the "Reserva de Produccion Faunistica Chimborazo" which forms a protected ecosystem to preserve the habitat for the andens native camelids Vicuña, Llama and Alpaca.

Carihuairazo's Glacier lost almost all of its mass during the last decade as a result of global warming and ash covers caused by the recent volcanic activity of its eastern neighbour Tungurahua. At current rate Carihuairazo's Glacier is expected to completely disappear between 2020 and 2030.

Carihuairazo must have been a Volcano of similar dimensions to its neighbour Chimborazo before explosions during the last period of activity destroyed the mass of the peak, leaving today's caldera. There is no evidence of historic activity and Carihuayrazo is considered inactive.

An interpretation of its name is that it's a combination of the Quichua words Cari (man), huay (wind) and razu (Ice/Snow) (Schmudlach 2001). Local Indian mythology narrates that Carihuairazo and El Altar which are both volcanic calderas have been destroyed by Taita (Father) Chimborazo fighting for the grace of Mamá Tungurahua.