Nudo de los Pastos facts for kids
The Nudo de los Pastos is a special mountain area in the Andes mountains. Its name means "Knot of the Pastos" in English. It's also sometimes called the "Massif of Huaca". This important group of mountains is found in the Carchi province of Ecuador and the Nariño department of Colombia.
The Nudo de los Pastos is where the huge Andes mountain range divides into two main branches as it enters Colombia. These two branches are called the Cordillera Occidental (Western Mountain Range) and the Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range).
While there isn't one exact boundary for the Nudo de los Pastos, it generally starts north of the Chota and Apaqui rivers. It stretches towards the Sickle of Minamá in the Cordillera Occidental. It also extends to the Colombian Massif in the Cordillera Central, which is where the Cordillera Oriental (Eastern Mountain Range) begins.
Western Mountain Range Features
The Cordillera Occidental, or Western Mountain Range, has some very tall peaks. These include the Chile volcano, which stands at 4,718 meters (about 15,479 feet) high. Another notable peak is the Cumbal volcano, reaching 4,764 meters (about 15,630 feet). The Azufral volcano is also part of this range, at 4,070 meters (about 13,353 feet).
The Minamá Sickle is a very deep valley in this area. It was formed by the Patia River as it cuts through the Cordillera Occidental. The Patia River then continues its journey all the way to the Pacific coast in Nariño.
Central Mountain Range Features
In the Cordillera Central, or Central Mountain Range, you can find several interesting places. These include the high plains of Túquerres and Ipiales. There is also the Atriz Valley, which is a significant geographical feature.
This range is home to more volcanoes, such as the Galeras volcano, standing at 4,276 meters (about 14,029 feet). The Doña Juana volcano is also here, reaching 4,250 meters (about 13,944 feet). The town of San Juan de Pasto and the beautiful Cocha lagoon are also located within this part of the Nudo de los Pastos.
Images for kids
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Laguna de la Cocha
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Galeras Volcano
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See also
- Pasto
- In Spanish: Nudo de los Pastos para niños
