Why in News?
Nevado Ojos del Salado is Recently following the successful summit by Prof. Arpita Patra of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) on March 6, 2026. She is reported to be the second Indian woman and the first Bengali woman to scale the world's highest volcanic peak.
Location and Elevation
- Astronaut photograph (2010) from the International Space Station shows the Central Andes volcanic landscape on the Argentina-Chile border, featuring Nevado Ojos del Salado, Cerro El Cóndor, Peinado, and Laguna Verde.
- Straddles the Argentina-Chile border in the Andes, within the arid Puna de Atacama region near the Atacama Desert.
- Reaches 6,893 meters (22,615 feet), making it the highest peak in Chile, second-highest in the Southern and Western Hemispheres after Aconcagua, and the tallest volcano on Earth.
- Features two summits: eastern (Argentine) and western (Chilean), both along the international boundary.
- This astronaut view highlights its position among Central Andean volcanoes, with nearby Laguna Verde visible.
Geological Features
- Subsurface ice formations protruding through the sandy slopes of Ojos del Salado.
- Dormant complex stratovolcano with overlapping lava domes, flows, craters, and sparse ice; covers 70–160 square kilometers.
- Hosts the world's highest crater lake at about 6,390 meters on its eastern side; name translates to "Eyes of the Salty One" from salt deposits resembling lagoons.
- Evidence of past glaciation includes moraines, cirques, and U-shaped valleys; subsurface ice persists under sand.
- Subsurface ice protrudes through sandy slopes, illustrating its dry yet icy high-altitude environment.
Volcanic History
- Active during Pleistocene and Holocene with lava flows; last eruption around 750 CE, possible steam emissions in 1993.
- Fumarolas near the summit indicate ongoing heat, but no historical eruptions due to remote location.
- Influenced by nearby volcanoes like Nevado Tres Cruces.
Climbing and Access
- Popular for expeditions as part of the Volcanic Seven Summits; dry, windy conditions with penitente snow fields at 6,500 meters.
- 2026 climbs advertised from February 13–26 and March 1–14, costing around $4,350 USD full service.
- Extremely arid climate with winter snow only at high elevations; requires desert trekking experience.
- Penitente fields on the northern face create unique, blade-like snow formations in summer.
Download Pdf
