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Geological Formations

Ojos del Salado

Volcanic Formations

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Ojos del Salado straddles the border between Chile and Argentina in the Andes, reaching an elevation of about 6,893 meters, making it the highest volcano on Earth and the second-highest peak in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres after Aconcagua. It is a stratovolcano built from andesitic and dacitic lava domes and flows, and while no eruption has been confirmed in recorded history it retains fumarolic activity near its summit and is generally classified as dormant rather than extinct. Near its summit sits a crater lake believed to be among the highest bodies of water in the world. The surrounding Atacama region is one of the driest places on Earth, so despite its extreme altitude the mountain carries only sparse permanent snow and ice. This entity documents Ojos del Salado specifically as a geological formation, the highest volcano in the world, straddling the Chile-Argentina border in the Andes.

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