Chimborazo
Chimborazo from the SW
Elevation	6,267 m (20,560 ft)
Location	Ecuador
Range	Andes
Prominence	4,122 m Ranked 17th
Coordinates	01°28′09″S, 78°49′03″W
Type	Stratovolcano
Age of rock	Paleogene [1]
Last eruption	Unknown
First ascent	1880 by Edward Whymper guided by J. and L. Carrel
Easiest route	glacier/snow climb PD

The inactive stratovolcano Chimborazo is Ecuadors highest summit. Its last eruption is thought to have occurred some time in the first millennium CE. Its summit is the spot on the surface farthest from the center of the Earth. Image File history File links Flag_of_Ecuador. ... Hector Zumba Campos Jackson Heights NY File links The following pages link to this file: Chimborazo (volcano) ... A topographical summit is a point on a surface which is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. ... A mountain range is a group of mountains bordered by lowlands or separated from other mountain ranges by passes or rivers. ... The Andes between Chile and Argentina The Andes form the longest mountain chain in the world. ... In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop or prime factor (in Europe), is a concept used in the categorization of hills and mountains. ... This is a list of peaks by prominence; that is, a list of mountains on Earth ordered by their topographic prominence. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Mountains can be characterized in several ways. ... A stratovolcano is a tall, conical mountain (volcano) composed of both hardened lava and volcanic ash. ... // The geological time scale is used by geologists and other scientists to describe the timing and relationships between events that have occurred during the history of the Earth. ... Paleogene (alternatively Palaeogene) period is a unit of geologic time that began 65 and ended 23 million years ago. ... Smoking Bromo and Semeru (background) volcanoes on Java in Indonesia. ... In climbing, a first ascent (FA) is the first climb to reach the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route. ... 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Edward Whymper (April 27, 1840 – September 16, 1911), was a British climber and explorer best known for the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. ... Southern and northern Mount Everest climbing routes as seen from the International Space Station. ... Peu difficile (of small difficulty; moderately difficult) is a French grade for climbing routes. ... A stratovolcano is a tall, conical mountain (volcano) composed of both hardened lava and volcanic ash. ...

Geography

The shadow of Chimborazo as seen from the summit at sunrise

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3425x2281, 157 KB) shadow of Chimborazo, seen from top, fotografie by Gerd Breitenbach 2003, File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Chimborazo (volcano) ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3425x2281, 157 KB) shadow of Chimborazo, seen from top, fotografie by Gerd Breitenbach 2003, File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Chimborazo (volcano) ...

Location

The Chimborazo is located in the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes of central Ecuador, 150 km (93 miles) south-southwest of the capital Quito. Its neighboured by 5,018 m high Carihuairazo. Chimborazos majestic summit rises 2,500 m above the surrounding highlands (~3,500 to 4,000 m) with a ~20 km wide base. Under perfect clear conditions the summit of Chimborazo can be seen from the coastal city Guayaquil. The nearest cities are Riobamba (~30km to the southeast), Ambato (~30km to the northeast) and Guaranda (~25km to the southwest). The Chimborazo is surounded by the "Reserva de Produccion Faunistica Chimborazo" which forms a protected ecosystem to preserve the habitat for the andens native camelids Vicuña, Llama and Alpaca. There are several Cordillera Occidental mountain ranges: Cordillera Occidental, Bolivia Cordillera Occidental, Colombia Cordillera Occidental, Peru This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... The Andes between Chile and Argentina The Andes form the longest mountain chain in the world. ... Map of Ecuador showing location of Quito. ... Vulcano in Ecuador. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Riobamba is a city in Ecuador, capital of the Chimborazo Province. ... San Juan de Ambato is a city in the centre of Ecuador near the Ambato River. ... Guaranda is a city in central Ecuador. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Binomial name Vicugna vicugna (Molina, 1782) The vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) is one of two wild South American camelids, along with the guanaco, which lives in the high Andes. ... Binomial name Lama glama (Linnaeus, 1758) The llama (Lama glama) is a large camelid that originated in North America and then later on moved on to South America. ... Binomial name Vicugna pacos (Linnaeus, 1758) The Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated breed of South American camel-like ungulates, derived from the wild vicuña. ...

False-color satellite image of Chimborazo (bright blue mass in the center left) and its neighbor Tungurahua (center right, with plume of ash).

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2400x2400, 3016 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Tungurahua Chimborazo (volcano) Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2400x2400, 3016 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Tungurahua Chimborazo (volcano) Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... Tungurahua (Quechua tunguri=gullet, rahua=burn, spit fire) is an active stratovolcano in Ecuador. ...

Glacier

The top of Chimborazo is completely covered by glaciers with some north-eastern glacier arms flowing down to 4,600 m. Its glacier is the source of water for the population of the Bolivar and Chimborazo provinces of Ecuador. The capital of Bolivar, Guaranda (25,000 inhabitants) is supplied by "vertientes" in the high "páramo" (arid Andean plateaus over 4,000 m) situated 25 km from the city. In the summer of 2005 the water supply of the city suffered severe crisis, probably due to the fast disappearance of the ice cover of the Chimborazo. According to French researchers, Andean high glaciers are melting at an accelerated rate and most are feared will disappear within the coming decades. Therefore, Quito, Lima, La Paz and other cities founded on glacial flows are bound to find themselves fighting severe water supply problems in the near future. Bolivar is derived from Sim n Bol var, one of the principal figures of the Latin American civil wars so called of independence; the Republic of Bolivia and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela are named after him, as are a number of other things, mainly in the Western Hemisphere: More... Chimborazo is a province in Ecuador. ... Guaranda is a city in central Ecuador. ... Paramo is the name given to an elevated track of desert (montane grasslands and shrublands) on the Andes. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Map of Ecuador showing location of Quito. ... Lima is the capital and largest city in Peru, as well as the capital of Lima Province. ... La Paz, Bolivia Central La Paz Panoramic sight of the city of La Paz La Paz or Chuquiyapu (chuqui, gold, yapu, farm) is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of La Paz Department. ...

Elevation

The elevation of 6,267 m was measured by a differential GPS survey in the 1990s and is generally accepted. SRTM data suggests that it is more accurate than an older but still often quoted elevation of 6,310 m. ^{[2] [3]} Chimborazo is higher in elevation above sea level than any other mountain in the Americas north of it. Over fifty GPS satellites such as this NAVSTAR have been launched since 1978. ... The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) is a research effort that obtained elevation data on a near-global scale to generate the most complete high-resolution digital topographic database of Earth to date. ...

Farthest point from earth center

Although the summit of Mount Everest reaches a higher elevation above sea level, the Earth's diameter at the equator is greater than at Everest's latitude (nearly 28° north), with sea level also being elevated. (See equatorial bulge.) The summit of Chimborazo is just one degree south of the equator. So despite being 2,581 meters (8,568 feet) lower in elevation above sea level, it is 6384.4 km (3968 mi) from the Earth's center, 2.1 km farther than the summit of Everest. Everest redirects here. ... An equatorial bulge is a planetological term which describes a bulge which a planet may have around its equator, distorting it into an oblate spheroid. ...

History

Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland at the Chimborazo base

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x709, 92 KB) Alexander von Humboldt und Aime Bonpland am Fuß des Vulkans Chimborazo Gemälde von Friedrich Georg Weitsch (1810) Uploaded to german wp on 22:41, 2. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x709, 92 KB) Alexander von Humboldt und Aime Bonpland am Fuß des Vulkans Chimborazo Gemälde von Friedrich Georg Weitsch (1810) Uploaded to german wp on 22:41, 2. ...

Etymology

Several theories regarding the origin of the name Chimborazo exist. After one theorie it is a combination of the Cayapa Schingbu for Women and the Colorado/Quichua Razo for Ice/Snow resulting in Women of Ice. After another theorie Chimbo is Jivaro for Throne of Master/God resulting in Icethrone of God. The locals also used to call the mountain Urcorazo, with the Quichua Urco for Mountain resulting in Mountain of Ice ^[4]. For the local indigenous mysticism the Chimborazo represents Taita (Father) whereas neighbouring Tungurahua is seen as Mama, Taita Chimborazo and Mama Tungurahua. Quechua (also Runasimi language of people) is a Native American language of South America. ... Shuar, in the Shuar language, means people. ... Tungurahua (Quechua tunguri=gullet, rahua=burn, spit fire) is an active stratovolcano in Ecuador. ...

First ascent

Until the beginning of the nineteenth century it was thought that Chimborazo was the highest mountain on Earth (measured from sea level), and such reputation led to many attempts on its summit during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In 1802 during his expedition to South America, Baron Alexander von Humboldt, accompanied by Aimé Bonpland and the Ecuadorian Carlos Montúfar attempted to reach the summit. From his description of the mountain it seems he reached a point at 5,875 m, from where he and his companions returned suffering from altitude sickness. At that point they had reached the highest point attained by any European in recorded history (Incans reached much farther, see Llullaillaco). Finally it was climbed by Briton Edward Whymper and the brothers Louis and Jean-Antoine Carrel in 1880. As there were many critics who doubted that Whymper had reached the summit, later in the same year he climbed to the summit again choosing a different route (Pogyos) with the Ecuadorians David Beltrán and Francisco Campaña.^[5] --69. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Friedrich Heinrich Alexander, Baron von Humboldt, (September 14, 1769, Berlin–May 6, 1859, Berlin), was a German naturalist and explorer, and the younger brother of the Prussian minister, philosopher, and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt. ... Aimé Jacques Alexandre Bonpland (August 22, 1773 - May 4, 1858) was a French explorer and botanist. ... Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS) or altitude illness is a pathological condition that is caused by lack of adaptation to high altitudes. ... For other meanings of Inca, see Inca (disambiguation). ... Llullaillaco is a stratovolcano at the border of Argentina (province of Salta) and Chile. ... Motto: Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto; French for God and my right) 3 Anthem: God Save the Queen 4 Capital London Most populous conurbation London Official language(s) English (de facto 5) Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen HM Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister The Rt Hon Tony Blair MP Establishment... Edward Whymper (April 27, 1840 – September 16, 1911), was a British climber and explorer best known for the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. ... Carrel may refer to: Armand Carrel (1800–1836), French writer. ... 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Missing flight #232

In August 1976 SAETA flight #232 (Vickers Viscount, 4 Crew, 55 Passengers) was reported missing while in flight from Quito to Cuenca. Immediate extensive search of the possible crash area did not produce any evidence. A crash on Chimborazo was considered to be most probable, some speculated about highjacking by Colombian Guerilla. After having been missing for 26 years in October 2002 the aircraft and the bodys of its 59 occupants were found on Chimborazo by ecuadorian andinists climbing on a seldom used eastern route (Integral) at a height of 5.400 m. ^[6] SAETA (Sociedad Anonima Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aereos) was a privately-held airline of Ecuador, which began operations in the 1960s and during its heyaday in the 1990s flew to numerous destinations in North and South America from its base in Guayaquil. ... The Viscount was a medium-range turboprop airliner introduced in 1953 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world. ...

Other

• The Chimborazo is featured on the ecuadorian coat of arms, to represent the beauty and richness of the ecuadorian Sierra (Highlands).
• Simón Bolívar wrote a poem inspired by the mountain, entitled "Mi delirio sobre el Chimborazo".

Simón José Antonio de los Santísima Trinidad Bolívar Palacios y Blanco (born July 24, 1783 in Caracas, Venezuela; died December 17, 1830 in Santa Marta, Colombia) was a South American revolutionary leader. ...

Climbing

Being ecuadors highest mountain climbing Chimborazo is very popular amongst mountaineers.

• Chimborazo can be climbed year round with best seasons being December-January and July-August.
• A good height acclimatization is highly recommended for this climb.
• The mountain is contained on the IGM (Instituto Geografico Militar) 1:50000 Map Chimborazo (CT-ÑIV-C1).^[7]

Sketch of Chimborazo Huts, main Summits and Routes

Two alpinists Acclimatization, uh kly muh tuh ZAY shuhn. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2999x2249, 266 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Chimborazo (volcano) ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2999x2249, 266 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Chimborazo (volcano) ...

Routes

The easiest (PD) and most climbed routes are the Normal and the Whymper route, both are western ridges routes starting at the Whymper hut and leading via the Ventimilla summit to the main (Whymper) summit. There are a several other less used and more challenging routes on the other mountains faces and ridges leading to one of Chimborazo's summits: Main (Whymper, Ecuador), Politecnico (Central), N. Martinez (Eastern). Peu difficile (of small difficulty; moderately difficult) is a French grade for climbing routes. ...

Refugios

There are two functioning Huts, the Carrel Hut (4.850 m) and the nearby Whymper Hut (5.000 m). The Carrel Hut can be reached by car from Riobamba, Ambato or Guaranda. On the north-west side there is the now disfunct Zurita hut (4.900 m) which served as base for the Pogyos route. Riobamba is a city in Ecuador, capital of the Chimborazo Province. ... San Juan de Ambato is a city in the centre of Ecuador near the Ambato River. ... Guaranda is a city in central Ecuador. ...

Gallery

Chimborazo from Northwest on Street Ambato - Guaranda Image File history File links Chimborazo+from+north+west+0704. ...

Chimborazo y Carihuairazo from North Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 314 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Chimborazo (volcano) Carihuairazo Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or...

Chimborazo from East Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x960, 317 KB) Photographer: Martin Zeise, Berlin Date: 06. ...

Alexander von Humboldt with Chimborazo in the background Download high resolution version (780x1052, 172 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

References

• Whymper, Edward (1892). Travels Amongst the Great Andes of the Equator. John Murray. ISBN 1904466249.
• Schmudlach, Günter (2001). Bergführer Ecuador. Panico Alpinverlag. ISBN 3926807822.
• Gomez, Nelson (1994). Atlas del Ecuador. Editorial Ediguias. ISBN 9978890092.

John Murray is a British publishing house, renowned for the roster of authors it has published in its history, including Jane Austen, Lord Byron and Charles Darwin. ...

Notes

1. ^ Gomez, Nelson (1994). Atlas del Ecuador
2. ^ World Top 50 Prominence on Peaklist.org
3. ^ List of frequently misquoted elevations
4. ^ Schmudlach, Günter (2001). Bergführer Ecuador.
5. ^ Whymper, Edward (1892). Travels Amongst the Great Andes of the Equator.
6. ^ El Comercio February 2003
7. ^ Mapa IGM Chimborazo (CT-ÑIV-C1)

External links

• Climbing information for Chimborazo
• Chimborazo Volcano Data (Global Volcanism Program)
• Official page of the protected area "Reserva de Produccion Faunistica Chimborazo"