Ollagüe

Saw Vulcan Ollagüe from Bolivia

The Ollagüe is an active volcano in the Andes. It is located on the border between Bolivia and Chile, in the department of Potosí in Bolivia and the Región de Antofagasta in Chile. Its height is 5870 meters. About the south side of the summit is often a highly visible cloud of steam from fumaroles.

The next place is the eponymous Chilean border town Ollagüe or about five kilometers from the village of Buenaventura him.

Mining

Just below the summit was mined since the beginning of the twentieth century to 1976 sulfur. In the western flank of the volcano, a road from Buenaventura goes up to a height of 5672 m. On this road you can see in 4292 m height, a former miner's camp. Another road leads directly from Buenaventura from the west in the southern flank and there was a larger work surface up to 5500 m Höhe.An this road set up in 4718 m height. Another road leads to the Bolivian side of the railroad near the town Avaroa on the east side of the volcano in its southern flank up to a height of 5494 m. In the southern flank there is a connection between the latter two roads.

In the mining industry only Quechua Indians were employed from Bolivia or Peru, since only these were accustomed to working at heights convenient. The company had Biorlando most 80 people at the volcano in action.

Ropeway

From the past to 3719 m altitude Buenaventura a material ropeway went to a lying at the edge of the southern flank of the mountain station at 4717 m altitude, thus overcoming a difference in altitude of around 1000 m. The remains of the mountain station, a lying approximately midway middle station and the cable car route are still recognizable. The 11 km long cableway served primarily the removal of sulfur. 1948, the cable car has been replaced by trucks, which could drive right up to the excavation sites.