Miñiques facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cerro Miñiques |
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The Miñiques volcano, seen from the Northwest.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,910 m (19,390 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Chile |
| Parent range | Andes |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | Unknown |
Miñiques is a huge volcano found in the Antofagasta Region of Chile. It's made up of many craters, lava domes, and flows.
This volcano is about 21 kilometers (13 miles) south of Volcán Chiliques. It is also 26 kilometers (16 miles) west of Cordón Puntas Negras. Miñiques is part of a popular area with high-plain lagoons. These include Laguna Miscanti and Laguna Miñiques, along with the Cerro Miscanti volcano.
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About Miñiques Volcano
Miñiques is actually made of four volcanoes that overlap each other. These include both lava domes and stratovolcanoes. It has two main peaks. The northern peak is about 5,790 meters (19,000 feet) high. The southern peak is taller, reaching 5,910 meters (19,390 feet) high.
Lakes and Features
Miñiques has two crater lakes. One is on the southeastern side of the northern peak, at 5,450 meters (17,880 feet) high. The other is on the western side, at 5,500 meters (18,040 feet) high.
You can also see old moraines on the southern side of the mountain. These are piles of rock and dirt left behind by glaciers. Even though glaciers were once here, they didn't cover a very large area. Today, the landscape is shaped by freezing and thawing processes.
Laguna Miñiques sits at the base of the volcano on its northwestern side. A lava flow from Miñiques once separated this lake from Laguna Miscanti.
How Miñiques Was Formed
The mountain rises from a high flat area called an ignimbrite plateau, which is about 4,100 meters (13,450 feet) high. Miñiques formed a very long time ago, during the Pleistocene and Pliocene periods. It is made of volcanic rocks like andesitic and dacitic rocks.
There are no records of Miñiques erupting in recent history. Because of this, it is considered an extinct volcano. Its old lava flows have been moved by faults in the Earth. While it's unlikely, any new eruptions would mostly be lava flows. These would probably not affect towns, but could impact the nearby road and Laguna Miñiques.
Ancient Connections
On the top and sides of Miñiques, you can find old stone structures and archaeological sites. The church in the nearby town of Socaire is even built to face the mountain. The ancient Inca people believed this mountain was connected to their god Tunupa and to lightning.
See also
In Spanish: Volcán Miñiques para niños
- List of volcanoes in Chile
- Chiliques
- Cerro Miscanti
- Cordón Puntas Negras
- Caichinque
- Los Flamencos National Reserve
- Chile
Further sources
