Doña Juana

Doña Juana
Panoramic view of the Doña Juana volcanic field
Elevation	4,150+ metres (13,615 feet)
Location
Doña Juana Location in Colombia
Location	Colombia
Range	Cordillera Central
Coordinates	1.47°0″N 76.92°0″W / 1.47°N 76.92°W / 1.47; -76.92Coordinates: 1.47°0″N 76.92°0″W / 1.47°N 76.92°W / 1.47; -76.92
Geology
Type	Stratovolcano
Volcanic arc/belt	Andean Volcanic Belt
Last eruption	1906

Doña Juana volcano (Spanish: Volcán Doña Juana ^[1]) is a stratovolcano^[2] located within the Doña Juana-Cascabel Volcanic Complex National Natural Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Natural Complejo Volcánico Doña Juana-Cascabel) in Nariño Department, Colombia.

With an explocivity index of 4, Doña Juana is rated as a "large" volcano of "cataclysmic" destructive power^[3]. During its last eruption, in 1906,^[2] more than 100 people were killed and many houses were destroyed.

Its largest known historical eruption was on November 13, 1899. In its prehistory, it is known to have erupted in the 23rd century BC in a caldera-forming eruption of unknown magnitude.^[3]

The name of the volcano originated from a legend of the Chincha Indians, within whose native lands it is located: Mama Juana, a beautiful Quiteña, fell in love with Pedro, a commoner, but with the parents opposed to the marriage, they fled, becoming the victims of a curse that turned them into volcanoes.^[4]

The volcano can be ascended from a slope that is part of the so-called Valley of Orchids. It is surrounded by an area of extraordinary biodiversity, which includes 471 species of birds (the Andean Condor included), bears, deer and pumas.^[4]

The summit of Dona Juana consists of a number of peaks, which afford spectacular views, including a view of Laguna del Silencio, one of 42 lakes in the national park^[4]

See also

• List of volcanoes in Colombia

References

1. ^ "Volcán Doña Juana: Colombia". Geographical Names. http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-822019&fid=1436&c=colombia. Retrieved 2011-01-11. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Doña Juana". Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1501-07=. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Large Volcano Explocivity Index". geograpic.org. http://www.allcountries.org/ranks/volcano_explocivity_index_ranks.html. Retrieved 2011-01-13. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "De visita por el complejo volcánico de Doña Juana y Cascabel". eltiempo.com. http://www.eltiempo.com/viajes/colombia/de-visita-por-el-complejo-volcanico-de-dona-juana-y-cascabel_7726591-1. Retrieved 2011-01-13.