Quilotoa
Quilotoa is a site of growing popularity. The route to the "summit" (the small town of Quilotoa) is generally traveled by hired truck or bus from the town of Zumbahua 17 kilometres (11 mi) to the South, or more commonly by bus from Latacunga. Visitors have to pay two US dollars each to enter Quilotoa. There are a number of simple hostels in the immediate area offering services such as mules and guides. Activities include a four to five-hour hike around the caldera (whose diameter is just over 3 kilometres (2 mi)). The caldera rim is highly irregular and reaches its maximum elevations 3,810 metres (12,500 ft) to the N, 3,894 metres (12,776 ft) to the NW and 3,915 metres (12,844 ft) to the SE, at three lava domes. The 10-kilometre (6 mi) hike is sandy and steep in places and can be quite taxing, particularly if there is fog.
It is a half-hour hike down from the viewpoint (and 1- to 2-hour hike back up the 280-metre (919 ft) vertical ascent), and very basic lodging down in its bowl. Camping is permitted at the bottom of the crater, but there is no potable water (except half-litre bottles sold at the hostel)
The lake surface is located at 3,500 metres (11,483 ft) asl. The total volume of water stored in Lake Quilotoa is 0.35 cubic kilometres (0.084 cu mi). According to local inhabitants, the lake level has been slowly declining over the last 10 years. Travertine deposits occur along the shore up to 10 metres (33 ft) above the lake level (in the year 2000).
The village of Quilotoa and the associated crater is also a popular destination within the Quilotoa Loop and is a common starting point for the “Quilotoa Traverse”, a multi-day village to village hiking route.
See also
References
- ^ "Quilotoa". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
- ^ Patricia A. Mothes, Minard L. Hall (2008) "The plinian fallout associated with Quilotoa's 800 yr BP eruption, Ecuadorian Andes", Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, Volume 176, Issue 1, 10 September 2008, Pages 56-69
- ^ Aguilera, E.; Chiodini, G.; Cioni, R.; Guidi, M.; Marini, L.; Raco, B. (2000). "Water chemistry of Lake Quilotoa (Ecuador) and assessment of natural hazards" (PDF). Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 97 (1–4): 271–285. Bibcode:2000JVGR...97..271A. doi:10.1016/S0377-0273(99)00168-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
- ^ Viva Quilotoa Travel Guide site visit Jan 31, 2009