Llullaillaco volcano
| Llullaillaco | |
|---|---|
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Llullaillaco from the east
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,723 or 6,739 m (22,057 or 22,110 ft) |
| Prominence | 2,344 m (7,690 ft) |
| Isolation | 264.53 kilometres (164.37 mi) |
| Listing | Ultra |
| Coordinates | 24°43′00″S 68°32′00″W / 24.71667°S 68.53333°WCoordinates: 24°43′00″S 68°32′00″W / 24.71667°S 68.53333°W |
| Geography | |
 Llullaillaco
Location in Chile (on border with Argentina)
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| Location | Chile and Argentina |
| Parent range | Andes, Puna de Atacama |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | May 1877 |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1950, but previous climbs by Inka |
Llullaillaco (Spanish pronunciation: [ʝu.ʝai̯.ˈʝa.ko]) is a dormant stratovolcano at the border of Argentina (Salta Province) and Chile (Antofagasta Region). It lies in the Puna de Atacama, a region of very high volcanic peaks on a high plateau close to the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places in the world. It is the second highest active volcano in the world after Ojos del Salado.
Llullaillaco was constructed during two different phases in the -Holocene by dacitic lava flows. The oldest rocks are about 1.5 million years old. About 150,000 years ago, the volcano's southeastern flank collapsed and generated a debris avalanche that reached as far as 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the summit. The youngest dated rocks were erupted 5,600 ± 250 years ago in the summit region, but there are reports of activity from the 19th century.
The mountain's first recorded climb was in 1950, but traces of earlier climbs, and a number of archeological sites, were found on the mountain and at its feet. With an archeological site at the summit region, Llullaillaco is the highest archeological site in the world. There, in 1999, the mummified remains of three children, known as the Children of Llullaillaco, were found. They are presumed to have been human sacrifices.
The name Llullaillaco is derived from the Quechua word llulla meaning "false", "lie" or "deceitful" and yaku or llaco meaning "water". This name probably refers to the meltwater from snow, which flows down the slopes but then is absorbed into the soil. Normally such mountains are sources for water.
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Wikipedia