Pasochoa (4,200 metres) is an
extinct volcano
A volcano is commonly defined as a vent or fissure in the Crust (geology), crust of a planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and volcanic gas, gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface.
On Earth ...
located in the
Guayllabamba river basin in the
Ecuador
Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...
ian
Andes
The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the List of longest mountain chains on Earth, longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range ...
. The current mountain form is a collapsed crater with a semicircular shape. This structure emerged approximately 100 thousand years ago due to an eruption which destroyed the crater and occidental slope of the previous volcanic cone.
Lava and ash increased the fertility of the ground in the Pasochoa region, encouraging the growth of a vibrant forest ecosystem.
Despite the fertile soil, difficult accessibility and an uneven surface made the area inappropriate for extensive agriculture. The
Pasochoa Wildlife Refuge, established in 1996, contains one of the few remaining original Andean forests.
Fundacion Natura used to manage the Pasochoa and offer programs on the natural resource conservation and environmental education and sponsors scientific research. Recently, the mountain's management has passed to the hands of the Ministerio del Ambiente. The mountain has a wonderful variety of wildlife, including pumas, foxes, skunks, a very diverse collection of birds, and a wonderful collection of plants.
Today the volcano is well known as a travel destination.
See also
*
List of volcanoes in Ecuador
This is a list of active and extinct volcanoes in Ecuador.
In Ecuador, National Polytechnic School (Ecuador), EPN monitors the volcanic activity in this Andean nation.
Mainland
Galápagos Islands
References
Volcano page, Institu ...
References
External links
*
Stratovolcanoes of Ecuador
Geography of Pichincha Province
Tourist attractions in Pichincha Province
Pleistocene stratovolcanoes
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