Factoid
Antofalla is a large and very remote
stratovolcano in Catamarca Province in
northwestern Argentina. It is located on the
northeastern edge of the Puna de Atacama,
a high desert plateau east of the Atacama
Desert. It lies just west of the Salar de
Antofalla, a large playa over 140 km (87 mi)
in length. Inca ruins can be found at the
volcano's summit, offering definitive proof
of numerous Pre-Columbian ascents.
What is a
Stratovolcano?
Stratovolcanoes are sometimes called
"composite volcanoes" because of their
composite layered structure built up from
sequential outpourings of eruptive
materials. They are among the most
common types of volcanoes, in contrast to
the less common shield volcanoes. Two
famous stratovolcanoes are Krakatoa, best
known for its catastrophic eruption in 1883
and Vesuvius, famous for its destruction of
the towns Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79
CE. Both eruptions claimed thousands of
lives. In modern times, Mount Saint Helens
and Mount Pinatubo have erupted
catastrophically.