Wila Pukarani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wila Pukarani |
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Wila Pukarani as seen from Witalina
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,920 m (16,140 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Wila Pukarani
Location in Bolivia
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| Location | Bolivia, Oruro Department, Sabaya Province, Coipasa Municipality |
| Parent range | Andes |
Wila Pukarani is a fascinating mountain in Bolivia. Its name comes from the Aymara language. Wila means "red" or "blood," and pukara means "fortress" or "mountain of protection." So, Wila Pukarani means "the one with a red fortress" or "the red mountain of protection." You might also see it spelled Vila Pucarani or Villa Pucarani.
This mountain is actually a volcano! It is located in the middle of the Coipasa salt pan. This salt pan is a huge, flat area covered in salt, found in the Bolivian Altiplano. The Altiplano is a very high plateau in the Andes mountains.
What is Wila Pukarani?
Wila Pukarani stands about 4,920 meters (or 16,142 feet) tall. This makes it a very high peak! It rises at least 1,200 meters (about 3,937 feet) from the flat land around it. This height difference is called its prominence.
Where is Wila Pukarani Located?
You can find Wila Pukarani in the Oruro Department of Bolivia. More specifically, it's in the Sabaya Province, within the Coipasa Municipality. The small town of Coipasa is right next to the mountain, on its northeastern side.
How Old is This Mountain?
Scientists have studied Wila Pukarani and believe it is very old. They think it formed about 3.7 million years ago! They figured this out by looking at how much the mountain has been worn down by weather over time.
The mountain also shows signs of something called Pleistocene glaciation. This means that during the Pleistocene Epoch, which was a long time ago (from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago), glaciers covered parts of Wila Pukarani. Glaciers are huge sheets of ice that move slowly and can carve out valleys and shape mountains.
See also
In Spanish: Cerro Villa Pucarani para niños
