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In South America, there are a huge number of high mountains that every climber (and not only) wants to see and conquer. Some of them are remarkable for their history, others for dangerous slopes. We bring to your attention a list of the 10 highest mountains of the American continent.
10 Tupungato, 6565 m
Tupungato is a massive Andean Pleistocene stratovolcano. It is located on the border between the Chilean region and the Argentine province of Mendoza, about 100 km south of Aconcagua, which is in 1st place in our selection. To the southwest is the active volcano Tupungatito (literally translated as “little Tupungato”) which last erupted in 1987.
Interesting and sad fact: On August 2, 1947, a Star Dust airliner carrying six passengers and five crew over the Andes crashed into a steep glacier on the Argentine side of the mountain. The aircraft was buried in an avalanche and heavy snowfall, leaving it undetected for more than 50 years before its remains were finally discovered in 2000. Shortly thereafter, an Argentine army expedition found the scattered wreckage, gathering some evidence to investigate the accident.
9. Yerupaha, 6635 m
This mountain is the highest point of the Amazon River watershed, as well as the second peak in Peru in this indicator. yerupaha – a kind of crown of the Huayhuash massif in the Peruvian Andes. The massif is a small ridge with several peaks at an altitude of more than 6000 m.
Before Jim Maxwell and Dave Harra finally climbed it in 1950, Yerupaha was the highest unclimbed peak outside of Asia. It will be sixteen years before the mountain sees another successful climb claim, this time by Jorge Peterek and Canadian Leif Patterson.
Like all peaks of the range, Yerupaha rises in the form of an almost vertical wall of stone and overhanging ice. It also has a sharp-edged pinnacle draped in the beautiful but brittle snow caps that are so common in this range. Thanks to the combination of these natural defenses and the height, it is no wonder that the mountain is so rarely conquered.
8. Lullaillaco, 6739 m
A dormant stratovolcano with an unpronounceable name Llullaillaco is the second largest volcano in the world and is located in a remote part of the region on the border between Chile and Argentina. Scientists recognize two main evolutionary stages in the history of Llullaillaco and call it an ancestral volcano whose history dates back to the Pleistocene.
At present, it is represented by two deeply eroded cones and associated lava flows, some of which are up to 20 km long and are distributed mainly in the west.
There are reports of eruptions in 1854, 1868 and 1877. It is possible that they led to extremely young lava flows, which are conspicuous due to their very low albedo and intact structure.
7. Tokorpuri, 6755 m
Volcanic complex Thokorpuri located along the border between Bolivia and Chile. The volcano consists of andesitic lava flows with some pyroclastics that form a 1,4 km wide summit crater. The rounded dome is the hallmark of Tokorpuri, attracting the eyes of tourists.
6. Mercedario, 6720 m
Mercedario is a unique place for those who want to discover the mountains. It is located in the Ramada (Andes) mountain range, and consists of six peaks, each of which is more than 6000 thousand meters high, with the highest point on the Mercedario.
It was first conquered in 1934, the second time – only 34 years later (the southern part was conquered). In 1971, an Austrian expedition managed to climb the mountain from the north, and the most difficult southwestern ridge fell under the onslaught of climbers in 1983, that is, almost 50 years after the first ascent and “discovery” of the mountain by climbers.
5. Uaskaran, 6746m
Waskaran rises in the province of Yungay in the Cordillera Blanca range in Peru. It is known primarily for its lethality: on May 31, 1970, an earthquake in Ancash led to the collapse of a large part of the northern part of the mountain. The avalanche mass, estimated at 80 million cubic meters of ice, mud and rocks, advanced about 18 km at an average speed of 280 to 335 km/h, burying the cities of Yungay and Ranrahirk and killing more than 20 people. This is not the only such case: in total, more than 000 people died from avalanches caused by earthquakes.
4. Cerro Bonete, 6759 m
First of all, let’s clarify which Cerro Bonete we’re talking about, since there are at least four mountains in Argentina with this name: Cerro Bonete in Mendoza, Cerro Bonete Chico in La Rioja (located in Puna de Atacama near Mount Pissis) , Cerro Bonete Grande in La Rioja (also located in Puna de Atacama) and finally Cerro Bonete in the Rio Negro with a height of 6759 m
The mountain is the third highest peak in the Nahuel Huapi National Park and rises in the heart of the park, above Lago Azul and Lago Creton. The ascent to the summit is not very difficult, but it does involve considerable preparation and careful route selection.
3. Monte Pissis, 6779 m
Monte Pissis in height it occupies the 3rd line in South America, and is also the 2nd in the world among volcanoes. It has four distinct peaks, three of which are almost the same height.
The peak in the west is considered the highest and was first climbed in 1937 by Osietzki and Szczepanski, two Polish climbers who climbed many peaks that year. Although, some of the local climbers doubt that the Poles climbed the mountain, since they always marked the peak they climbed, but on Monte Pissis they did not find a single trace of their stay.
Until 1997, it was difficult to even reach the summit, since it is located quite far in the desert, but when a mine was opened nearby, a primitive road was built. The mountain is named after the French scientist Pierre Joseph Pissis.
2. Ojos del Salado, 6893 m
The second highest in South America and the first in Chile – these are the regalia Ojos Del Salado. Moreover, it is also the highest volcano in the world. The peaks are located on the border between Chile and Argentina in the Atacama region.
December to March are the warmest and therefore the best months to climb to the summit. Some climbers prefer to go later as it is easier to find water then, although it has never been a big problem as there is a lot of snow at the summit and even a small stream on the north side. In the southern reaches, it is even easier to find water, snow and ice.
1. Aconcagua, 6962 m
And here is the leader, which we have already mentioned. The mountain is interesting not only as an object for climbing, but as a historical place: for the Incas Aconcagua was a sacred mountain. As in other mountains (for example, Ampato), places of worship were built here and sacrifices were made, including human ones. Places discovered in 1985 at an altitude of 5167 m are among the highest and most inaccessible of all where this civilization has visited.
In the stone walls were found the remains of a child lying on grass, cloth and feathers (the mummy of Aconcagua). The clothing indicates that the child was a member of a higher social class. Other suggestions found included figures and even coca leaves.