Sierra Velluda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sierra Velluda |
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South-southwest face of Sierra Velluda. Antuco Volcano and Domuyo are visible in the upper-left portion of the image.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,585 m (11,762 ft) |
| Prominence | 1,784 m (5,853 ft) |
| Listing | Ultra |
| Geography | |
 Sierra Velluda
Location in Chile
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| Parent range | Andes |
Sierra Velluda is a huge, ancient volcano in Chile. It's found in the Bío Bío Region, right next to the Antuco Volcano. This mountain is covered in ice and has two main peaks. It's also the tallest mountain inside the Laguna del Laja National Park.
This type of volcano is called a stratovolcano. It's known for its cone shape and layers of hardened lava and ash. Sierra Velluda was formed a very long time ago, during a period called the Pleistocene epoch.
Contents
How Sierra Velluda Formed
Sierra Velluda grew in two main steps, over hundreds of thousands of years.
First Stage of Formation
The first part of the volcano started forming about 495,000 years ago. During this time, about 1.5 cubic kilometers (that's a lot!) of rock pieces called breccia and flowing lava built up. Sometimes, fast-moving clouds of hot ash and gas, known as pyroclastic flows, also came out.
Second Stage of Formation
The second stage happened around 381,000 years ago. In this stage, even more material was added. About 3 cubic kilometers of breccia and lava built up, making the volcano even bigger.
Shaping by Glaciers
After the volcano formed, huge sheets of ice, called glaciers, moved across the land. These glaciers slowly carved away at the mountain. This process, called glacial erosion, helped to show the older layers of rock that were formed first.
See also
- In Spanish: Sierra Velluda para niños
