Cerro de Arcos

Cerro de Arcos
A general view of the Cerro de Arcos (with Cerro de las Chinchas in the background)
Elevation	3,700 m (12,139 ft)
Location
Cerro de Arcos  Ecuador
Range	Andes
Coordinates	03°33′51″S 79°28′10″W / 3.56417°S 79.46944°W / -3.56417; -79.46944Coordinates: 03°33′51″S 79°28′10″W / 3.56417°S 79.46944°W / -3.56417; -79.46944
Geology
Type	Rock formation
Age of rock	Paleogene (Gomez 1994)
Climbing
Easiest route	Hiking

One of the arches

The Cerro de Arcos (English: Hill of arches) is a windswept rock formation in the high paramo of the Ecuadorian southern sierra. It is situated on the border between the provinces El Oro and Loja, on the elevated plain between the Cordillera de Chilla and the Cordillera de Timbayacu at an altitude of 3700 m (12140f).

The rock formation features towers, columns and several of the eponymous arches formed by wind and weather erosion. The formation covers an area of about 300 m by 300 m.

Nearby populated places are Bellavista and Sabadel, nearest villages/small towns are Zaruma and Manu.

References

• Gomez, Nelson (1994). Atlas del Ecuador. Editorial Ediguias. ISBN 9978-89-009-2. 
• "Selva Alegre Ecuador, CT-NVI-D3". IGM. 1988. http://www.igm.gov.ec/cms/files/cartabase/n/imagenes/NVI_D3_ALTA.jpg. Retrieved 2008-01-26. 

External links

• Local Cerro de Arcos information with pictures