Cotopaxi is the Ecuadorian stratovolcano that rises to 5,897 metres and ranks among the world’s highest active volcanoes.
Its nearly symmetrical cone is capped by glaciers and forms one of the best-known landscapes in the Ecuadorian Andes. Cotopaxi lies south of Quito within Cotopaxi National Park, where its distinctive profile attracts climbers and visitors.
The volcano has erupted repeatedly during recorded history. Historical eruptions have produced ash, lava flows and lahars—mudflows made from volcanic debris, melted snow and water. These lahars can travel far down river valleys and pose hazards to nearby communities.
Cotopaxi is sometimes confused with Chimborazo, Ecuador’s highest mountain. Chimborazo reaches a greater elevation above sea level, but it is generally regarded as dormant, whereas Cotopaxi remains an active volcano. Cotopaxi is also distinct from Cayambe, another high Ecuadorian volcano with glaciers.