Safari Adventures:
History
Cotopaxi is the highest active volcanoes in the world (5,897meters/19,348
feet). Records of its activity date back to 1534, when the Conquistadors
came to what now is known as Ecuador.
History tells of a battle between the Spanish invaders and indigenous
natives which was happening when the volcano erupted frightening
the two groups. The indigenous people venerated the volcano and
they interpreted this as a bad sign, while the Spanish soldiers
were simply terrified, they had never experienced volcanic activity.
After this, Cotopaxi erupted several times. The most famous eruption
was in June 1877 when lahars (avalanches of mud caused by melted
glaciers descend at a high speed down the slopes of the volcano)
destroyed cities such as Latacunga and devastated many valleys.
The wave of muddy water reached the Pacific Ocean at Esmeraldas
(hundreds of km away) 18 hours later.
The first person to climb to the rim of the crater was the German
Wilhelm Reiss accompanied by a Colombian, Angel Escobar in 1872.
They climbed a still warm lava flow on the west side of the Andes.
A decade later the British mountaineer Edward Whymper succeeded
in climbing Cotopaxi from the North. This has since become the normal
route for climbing the mountain.
Details of the routes are constantly changing due to the constant
glacier movement and daily melting snow.
Flora & Fauna
There are a variety of animals such as the Andean wolves (Dusicyon
culpaeus), pumas (Felis concolor), deer (Mazama rufina) and marsupial
mice (Caenolestes fuliginosus). The last two are endemic species.
The most common mammal is the rabbit (sylvilagus brasiliensis).
The vegetation changes with the altitude and when we reach 3,500
meters/11,500 feet we find arboreal species like Pumamaqui (Oreopanax
s.p.p.), Quishar or "God's tree" , Mortiño (Vaccinium
floribundum) and Romerillo (Hypericum laricifolium).
In the Limpiopungo area there are many birds, especially the Galleteras,
ducks, Andean Gull and Sparrow hawks. The rocky volcano Rumiñahui
is one of the areas known for condors.
Four bio-regions have been identified within Cotopaxi National Park:
Humid High Mountain Forest
This is found between 3,400 meters/11,000 feet and 3,900 meters/13,000
feet with a temperature between 6°C (43°F) and 12°C
(56°F). Trees are stunted and much of this area has been invaded
by paramo grass as a result of deforestation and burning. The Chuquiragua
plant (climbers' emblem) and Alchemila are characteristic of this
area.
Rainy Sub-Andean Plains
This area is characterized by native grass and many water holding
cold - resistant plants. The rivers around here, such as the Pita,
no longer contain the Prenadilla fish which was an endemic species
of the high Andes area. Now we only find trout since its introduction
by the Ministry of Agriculture. This river valley was altered by
a gigantic lahar of Cotopaxi's last eruption in 1877.
Rainy Andean Tundra
This is the area between 4,400 meters/14,500 feet and 4,700 meters/15,500
feet where the temperatures range from 1.5°C (35°F) to 3°C
(38°F). The principal vegetation found here form cushions of
lichens and moss.
Permanent Snows
This includes all the snowed surface where there is practically
no vegetation.
Climate
Throughout the year temperatures vary little. The average daytime
temperature is 7°C (45°F) though seasonal and nocturnal
variations have been recorded below freezing and up to 20°C
(68°F).
The rainy seasons run from January to May and October/ November.
The main dry season of June to September is noted for strong winds,
while the short dry season at Christmas is normally the best weather
of the year.
Cultural Heritage
There's no native culture nor communities, but there are some archaeological
ruins and a Pucara has been restored. This Pucara is known as El
Salitre. It was excavated by Ecuadorian archaeologists in the year
1987.
El Salitre is found to the East of Cotopaxi. It was probably an
Inca military fortress. There are 29 rooms which lodged the members
of their respective military group. Pottery, tools, weapons, food,
stones and much more were found by the archaeologists and this helped
to reconstruct how they lived here. Salitre was deserted because
of the eruptions or the seismic activity produced by Cotopaxi.
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