Chimborazo
Ecuador's highest peak and farthest point from Earth's center.
Chimborazo is a stratovolcano in Ecuador and the Cordillera Occidental range of the Andes. Chimborazo is notable because its summit is the farthest point on Earth's surface from the planet's center, due to its location along the equatorial bulge.
- Location
- Chimborazo Province, Ecuador
- Type
- Stratovolcano
- Prominence
- Highest mountain in Ecuador
- Notable Feature
- Farthest point on Earth's surface from its center
Lore & Background
Chimborazo is an ice-capped inactive double volcano with four summits: Whymper, Veintimilla, Politecnica, and Nicolas Martínez. The volcano is dominantly andesitic to dacitic, meaning its lava is blocky or flows down the sides.
Reader's Guide
Chimborazo's significance extends beyond its height. Until the early 19th century, it was thought to be the highest mountain on Earth from sea level, leading to many summit attempts. The mountain's glacial ice is mined by locals (Hieleros) for sale in markets. Its summit is 2.1 km farther from Earth's center than Everest's, though it has about one percent less gravity at the summit.
Did You Know?
- Chimborazo's summit is 2.1 km farther from Earth's center than Mount Everest's summit.
- The mountain has four named summits: Whymper, Veintimilla, Politecnica, and Nicolas Martínez.
- The name Chimborazo may derive from Quechua words meaning 'the snow on the other side.'
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Chimborazo the farthest point on Earth from its center?
Its position right along the equator takes advantage of the planet's rotational bulge, which pushes the surface outward. Combined with its high elevation, this makes the summit the most distant point from Earth's core.
Where is Chimborazo located?
It rises in Chimborazo Province, Ecuador, as part of the Cordillera Occidental range within the broader Andes mountain system.
More in Notable Mountains And Peaks 1-23
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