Cotopaxi is an Ecuadorian stratovolcano.

The volcano
Cotopaxi occurs as volcano in Ecuador, at 5,897 meters a 2nd greatest in the united states (the greatest a single existence Chimborazo at 6,310 meters), and one of a greatest active volcanoes in the globe. But, despite occasional claims, these are non the greatest historically active volcano, that title existence held per good deal higher Llullaillaco volcano (6,739 meters high, active in 1877) on the border between Chile and Argentina.

Cotopaxi is placed astir L klick south of Quito. Cotopaxi has an elevation of to a higher degree 3,000 metres after measured from either its base. A base of this stratovolcano has a breadth astir Twenty-three kilometre.

There use at times been additional than Fifty eruptions of Cotopaxi since 1738. Many vale formed by mighty lahars (mudflows) surround the volcano. This poses the high chance to the local people, their settlements & fields. A city Latacunga has been completely destroyed at least twice around its history. A virtually all violent historical eruptions happened around 1744, 1768, and 1877. Pyroclastic flows descended all sides of the volcano around 1877, and lahars travelled extra than C kilometer into a Pacific Ocean and western Amazon basin. There was the major eruption around 1903 through 1904, and a select few minor activity inside 1942.

A volcano is the subject of 1855 & 1862 paintings by Frederic Edwin Church.

Cotopaxi is also the province of Ecuador.