Mojanda

Mojanda
Caricocha in the Mojanda caldera. On the opposite side of lake, the páramo has been burned away to promote new growth for cattle grazing.
Elevation	4,263 m (13,986 ft)
Location
Location	Between Imbabura and Pichincha provinces, Ecuador
Range	Andes
Coordinates	0°08′N 78°16′W / 0.13°N 78.27°W / 0.13; -78.27Coordinates: 0°08′N 78°16′W / 0.13°N 78.27°W / 0.13; -78.27
Geology
Type	Inactive stratovolcano
Last eruption	Middle Pleistocene

Mojanda is an inactive stratovolcano of the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes in northern Ecuador. A summit caldera, which was produced by an explosive Plinian Eruption that marked the end of Mojanda activity 200,000 years ago, is presently occupied by three crater lakes: Caricocha (the largest), Yanacocha, and Huarmicocha.^[1] Having received protected status in 2002, they are a popular tourist destination and are about 20 minutes taxi ride from the largely indigenous town of Otavalo.

Mojanda is actually a complex of two volcanoes which were active simultaneously. The volcanic vents are only 3 km apart. The other volcano, which produced at least two Plinian Eruptions of its own, is known as Fuya Fuya. Fuya Fuya partially collapsed around 165,000 years ago, creating a large caldera to the West. A new volcanic cone and other lava domes subsequently extruded inside the caldera, probably during the Late Pleistocene.^[2]

The high altitude grasslands and shrublands of Mojanda, which lie above the cloud forests, are collectively known as páramo. They are frequently grazed by cattle.

A Panaroma taken in Mojanda volcanic lakes

See also

• List of volcanoes in Ecuador

References

1. ^ "Potential hazards in case of unrest at Mojanda - Fuya Fuya volcanic complex, Ecuador" (DOC). http://www.citiesonvolcanoes4.com/abstracts/numerados/487.doc. Retrieved 2006-03-17. 
2. ^ "Mojanda". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1502-004. Retrieved 2006-03-17.