Cerro La Campana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cerro La Campana |
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|---|---|
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,880 m (6,170 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Chile |
| Parent range | Andes |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Sendero Andinista |
Cerro La Campana, which means "The Bell Mountain," is a well-known mountain in central Chile. It is located inside the beautiful La Campana National Park. From its top, on a clear day, you can see the vast Pacific Ocean and even the towering Aconcagua mountain.
This area has seen a lot of people move in over the years. Because of this, many trees were cut down on the mountain starting around the 1900s. One special tree that still grows on Cerro La Campana is the Chilean Wine Palm. This amazing palm tree is now endangered, meaning it's at risk of disappearing. Long ago, it grew in many more places.
Charles Darwin's Adventure
In 1834, a famous scientist named Charles Darwin visited Chile. He was on a long journey around the world aboard a ship called HMS Beagle. When the ship arrived in Valparaiso, Darwin decided to explore the land.
On August 14, he got some horses and set off on an adventure. He wanted to study the rocks and land near the Andes mountains. He reached a place called Hacienda de San Isidro, which is at the foot of Cerro La Campana.
Climbing the Mountain
On August 16, Darwin and his guide began climbing Cerro La Campana. As they went up, Darwin noticed many interesting plants, including a type of bamboo. He even wrote about how people collected a sweet sap, like honey, from the palm trees.
That evening, they camped by a spring called Agua del Guanaco. The next morning, they continued their climb to the very top of the mountain. They spent the whole day there. A special plaque on the path now remembers Darwin's climb.
Darwin's Amazing View
Darwin loved the view from the summit. He wrote about how he could see all of Chile, the Andes mountains, and the Pacific Ocean, "as in a Map." He was amazed by the powerful forces that created these huge mountains. He also wondered about the countless ages it must have taken to shape them.
While on the mountain, Darwin saw many small pits where people had tried to find gold. Even at the very top, there was a small hole. After another evening talking by their campfire, they went down the mountain the next day. They took a different path back to the Hacienda. From there, they continued their journey towards Santiago.
See also
In Spanish: Cerro La Campana para niños
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