Atacazo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Atacazo |
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Atacazo viewed from the other side
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,463 m (14,642 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Atacazo
Location in Ecuador
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| Parent range | Andes |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | 320 BCE ± 16 years |
Atacazo is a large volcano in the Andes mountains. It is located in Ecuador, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of the city of Quito.
Atacazo is a type of volcano called a stratovolcano. This means it is shaped like a cone and built up by many layers of hardened lava and ash. The volcano was formed a very long time ago. Its last eruption happened nearly 2,300 years ago.
A Sad Day in History
On November 7, 1960, a passenger plane crashed near Atacazo. The plane was a Fairchild F-27, and it belonged to an airline called AREA Ecuador. It was flying from Guayaquil to Quito.
The plane was trying to land at the new Mariscal Sucre International Airport. But the weather was very bad. The plane hit the side of the Atacazo volcano. This happened about 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of Quito. It was only 150 meters (490 feet) from the top of the volcano.
Sadly, all 37 people on board the plane died in the crash. At that time, it was the worst plane crash ever in Ecuador. It was also the first major accident at the new Quito airport.
See also
In Spanish: Atacazo para niños
- Lists of volcanoes
- List of volcanoes in Ecuador
