Description of the attraction
Volcano Llullaillaco is a stratovolcano with a height of 6739 m located on the border of Argentina and Chile. Despite being the third highest mountain in Chile, it has rarely been visited due to its difficult access and minefields around it. On the Chilean side of the volcano is the Llullaillaco National Park.
Llullaillaco is considered an active volcano, the last eruptions were recorded in 1854, 1866 and 1877. In addition, it is the second highest active volcano in the world, second only to the volcano Ojos del Salado.
There are two plausible versions explaining the origin of the name of the volcano Llullaillaco. In accordance with the first and most famous assumption: in the Quechua language, llullu means "water that cannot be found despite a long search." Another version is that in the Aymara language, llullu means "a soft substance that later hardens", i.e. lava flows like dirty water and then solidifies.
The surroundings of the Llullaillaco volcano are very beautiful. Climbing to the top of the volcano, you can meet guanacos, donkeys and a variety of birds.
There are two ways to climb the volcano. The northern route reaches 4600 m, it can be overcome by car, the southern route is 5000 m long. Both of these routes have areas with hard snow, so it is recommended to have a special one with you. shoes and ice ax.
The first ascent by the climbers took place on December 1, 1952. Juan Gonzalez and Chilean Bion Harseim discovered an Inca sanctuary at the top of a volcano. During an expedition led by Johan Reinhard and Argentine archaeologist Constance Ceruti in 1999, the mummies of a fifteen-year-old girl, boy and girl five to seven years old were discovered, which were probably sacrificed more than 500 years ago. Of the eight mummies found so far on the Andes mountains, these are in the best condition.
