Nevado San Francisco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nevado San Francisco |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,016 m (19,738 ft) |
| Prominence | 1,124 metres (3,688 ft) |
| Parent peak | Ojos del Salado |
| Geography | |
| Location | Argentina-Chile |
| Parent range | Andes |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 1.34 - 1.32 million years ago |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | Unknown |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 16 December 1913 - Walther Penck (Germany) |
Nevado San Francisco, also known as Cerro San Francisco, is a very tall mountain that used to be a stratovolcano. It sits right on the border between two countries: Argentina and Chile. You can find it just southeast of a place called San Francisco Pass.
This mountain is considered "extinct," which means it's a volcano that is not expected to erupt again. Nevado San Francisco is one of many peaks in the area that are over 6,000 meters (about 19,685 feet) tall. The most famous mountain nearby is Ojos del Salado. Nevado San Francisco is located in the Catamarca Province in Argentina and the Copiapo Province in Chile.
Contents
What is Nevado San Francisco?
Nevado San Francisco is part of the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes mountain range. It reaches an impressive height of 6,016 meters (19,738 feet) above sea level. This mountain is mostly made of a type of rock called andesite. However, on its eastern side, you can find some smaller cones and lava flows made of basalt. These basalt rocks are quite old, dating back about 200,000 years! They are special because they contain shiny green crystals called olivine.
How Old is the Mountain?
Some of the lava flows from Nevado San Francisco are less than one million years old. One of these flows is very long, stretching for about 11 kilometers (almost 7 miles)! On the western side of the mountain, there are also dome-shaped structures made of dacite rock.
What is on the Summit?
At the very top of Nevado San Francisco, there are two round structures. Experts believe these were built by ancient people, possibly from the Inca or Formative periods.
Who First Climbed Nevado San Francisco?
The first person known to have climbed Nevado San Francisco was Walther Penck from Germany. He reached the summit on December 16, 1913.
See also
In Spanish: Volcán San Francisco para niños
