VOLCAN PICHINCHA

The Pichincha, commonly called Guagua (child in Quichua) Pichincha by the Quiteños, dominates the capital from its 4,776 m altitude and is part of the daily life of the inhabitants. It is still in operation, unlike its big brother, the Rucu Pichincha, located a little further south and rising to 4,696 m. It is older but slightly lower. Pinchincha is easy to discover, as a cable car links Quito to its eastern face at an altitude of 3,945 m. Its last major eruption was in 1999. Quito was covered in ash.