Llullaillaco Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Llullaillaco
Llullaillaco from the east
Highest point
Elevation	6,723 or 6,739 m (22,057 or 22,110 ft)
Prominence	2,344 m (7,690 ft)
Listing	Ultra
Geography
Llullaillaco Location in Chile
Location	Chile and Argentina
Parent range	Andes, Puna de Atacama
Geology
Age of rock	Pleistocene
Mountain type	Stratovolcano
Last eruption	May 1877
Climbing
First ascent	1950, but previous climbs by Inka

Llullaillaco is a huge volcano, 6,739 meters (about 22,110 feet) tall. It's located in the Andes Mountains, right on the border between Argentina and Chile. It's actually the 7th tallest mountain in the entire Andes range!

This giant volcano sits in a place called the Puna de Atacama. This area has many tall volcanoes on a high, flat landform called a plateau. It's also part of the Atacama Desert, which is one of the driest places on Earth.

Exploring Llullaillaco's Past
About the Volcano
Gallery
Related pages
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Llullaillaco's Past

The first recorded climb to the top of Llullaillaco happened on December 1, 1952. Two climbers from Chile, Bión González and Juan Harseim, made this journey. When they reached the top, they found signs that people had been there long before them. These were people from the pre-Columbian period, meaning before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas.

Later, from 1983 to 1985, an American archaeologist named Johan Reinhard led several trips. He explored the top and sides of the mountain, looking for ancient sites.

The very top of Llullaillaco is the highest archaeological site in the world. This means it's the highest place where scientists have found old human remains and objects. In 1999, Johan Reinhard and Constanza Ceruti, with their team, made an amazing discovery there. They found the mummified bodies of three Inca children. Along with the children, they also found other ancient artifacts.

About the Volcano

Llullaillaco is a type of volcano called a stratovolcano. These volcanoes are usually tall and cone-shaped, built up by many layers of hardened lava and ash. This volcano is located on the border between Chile and Argentina. On the Chilean side, it's part of the Llullaillaco National Park.

Llullaillaco has erupted a few times in recorded history, in 1854, 1866, and 1877. Since the last eruption in 1877, it has been quiet. It is known as the world's second highest active volcano, with only Ojos del Salado being taller.

Llullaillaco is also known as an Ultra peak. This is a special term for mountains that stand out a lot from the land around them. To be an Ultra, a mountain's peak must rise at least 1,500 meters (about 4,921 feet) higher than any connecting ridge.