Mojanda
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mojanda  |
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 Caricocha in the Mojanda caldera. On the opposite side of lake, the páramo has been burned away to promote new growth for cattle grazing. |
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| Elevation | 4,263 m (13,986 feet) |
| Location | Imbabura Province, Ecuador |
| Range | Andes |
| Coordinates | |
| 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 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.
