Misti

Misti, also known as Putina[3] or Guagua Putina,[1] is a stratovolcano of andesite, dacite, and rhyolite[4] located in southern Peru near the city of Arequipa. With its seasonally snow-capped, symmetrical cone, Misti stands at 5,822 metres (19,101 ft) above sea level and lies between the Chachani massif (6,075 m or 19,931 ft) and Pichu Pichu volcano (5,669 m or 18,599 ft). Its last eruption was in 1985 (1985), 198 years after its previous documented eruption.[1]

Misti
Misti as viewed from Arequipa
Highest point
Elevation5,822 m (19,101 ft)[1][2]
Prominence1,785 m (5,856 ft)
ListingUltra
Coordinates16°17′40″S 71°24′32″W[1]
Geography
Misti is located in Peru
Misti
Misti
Peru
CountryPeru
RegionArequipa
Parent rangeAndes
Geology
Mountain typeStratovolcano
Volcanic arc/beltCentral Volcanic Zone
Last eruption1985

Description

Misti has three concentric craters. Active fumaroles (volcanic gas vents) can be seen in the inner crater.[5] Near the inner crater, six Inca mummies and rare Inca artifacts were found in 1998 during a month-long excavation directed by archaeologists Johan Reinhard and Jose Antonio Chavez. These findings are currently stored at the Museo de Santuarios Andinos in Arequipa.

The volcano has two main climbing routes. The Pastores route starts at 3,300 metres (10,800 ft). Usually a camp is made at 4,500 metres (14,800 ft) at Nido de Aguilas. The Aguada Blanca route starts at 4,000 metres (13,100 ft) near the Aguada Blanca reservoir, and a camp is made at 4,800 metres (15,700 ft) at Monte Blanco (the camp is named after Mont Blanc, the summit of which is approximately the same elevation as the camp). Neither climbing route presents technical difficulties, but both are considered strenuous because of the steep loose sand slopes.

Surrounding area

A long history of eruptions from Misti and its neighboring volcanoes has caused the local soil to be extremely fertile, making the surrounding area one of the most agriculturally productive in Peru.[5] Locals also make extensive use of a white volcanic rock called sillar, which is strong but easily workable.[5] The city of Arequipa has a significant number of buildings constructed with sillar, resulting in the nickname la ciudad blanca ("the white city").[5]

  • Aerial picture of Ubinas with Misti in the back (2015).
    Aerial picture of Ubinas with Misti in the back (2015).
  • Misti, as seen from Arequipa (2015).
    Misti, as seen from Arequipa (2015).
  • This mosaic of two astronaut photographs taken from the ISS illustrates the proximity of Arequipa to Misti, just 17 km away (2009).
    This mosaic of two astronaut photographs taken from the ISS illustrates the proximity of Arequipa to Misti, just 17 km away (2009).
  • The crater of El Misti (2005).
    The crater of El Misti (2005).

See also

References
  1. "El Misti". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  2. "Topographic map of El Misti". opentopomap.org. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  3. Besom, Thomas (2009). Of Summits and Sacrifice: An Ethnohistoric Study of Inka Religious Practices. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0292725720.
  4. Thouret, Jean-Claude; Finizola, Anthony; Fornari, Michel; Legeley-Padovani, Annick; Suni, Jaime; Frechen, Manfred (2001-12-01). "Geology of El Misti volcano near the city of Arequipa, Peru". GSA Bulletin. 113 (12): 1593–1610. doi:10.1130/0016-7606(2001)113<1593:GOEMVN>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0016-7606.
  5. Scheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980). Natural Wonders of the World. United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. p. 251. ISBN 0-89577-087-3.

Bibliography
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