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Volcanoes
photo by Christine Nguyen
The volcano Licancabur (left) is considered the most important geological feature in the legends of San Pedro de Atacama. Some Atacameños believe that Licancabur holds spiritual power. The volcano Juriques is pictured on the right. view panorama

Volcanoes are formed from friction produced by currents of liquid hot magma between continental masses, which fracture the Earth´s crust. In Chile´s case, the Nazca oceanic plate penetrates the South American continent.

The fused material can be found between 3 and 124 miles (4 and 200 kilometers) below the surface, with temperatures reaching 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit (1,000 degrees Celsius). Fifteen hundred active volcanoes have been identified in the world, with almost 10 percent of these in Chile.

Licancabur Volcano

San Pedro is located at the base of Licancabur. The native name of this inactive volcano menas “Village Mountain.” Licancabur is located 37 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of San Pedro, at the border between Chile and Bolivia, and rises 19,409 feet (5,916 meters) above sea level. From its summit, climbers can see a complete panoramic view of the region, including the Atacama Salt flat. Another inactive volcano, Juriques, rises to 18,864 feet (5,750 meters) and it is located beside Licancabur.

Láscar Volcano

Láscar is one of the major active volcanoes in South America. Its height rises to 18,346 feet (5,592 meters) and is located 74 miles southeast of San Pedro. Lascar’s caldera houses six overlapping craters. The active crater, located near the center of the cluster, is about 2,640 feet (750 meters) wide and 984 feet (300 meters) deep.

During its last eruption on July 20, 2000, Lascar shot a huge plume of ash 27 miles (45 kilometers) into the sky. In order to climb the volcano, it is necessary to acclamitize to the altitude and be cautious of the high wind speed, which can reach 124 miles per hour (200 kilometers per hour).

photo by Christine Nguyen
The mountain Quimal lies southwest of San Pedro de Atacama and directly across from Licancabur. Each year on July 29, Licancabur casts a shadow within the canyon of Quimal, signifying the beginning of the farming season. view slideshow