Pululagua

Looking to the Cerro Pondoña and Rumiloma

The Pululahua is a caldera in the Ecuadorian Andes ( Cordillera Occidental). The highest point of the caldera is with 3356 m of Cerro Sincholagua on the south- eastern crater rim. The highest elevation in the interior of the caldera - the Loma Pondoña ( a lava dome ) - has a height of 2975 m. The only volcanic cones - the Rumiloma with 2769 m - closes east of the Loma Podoña. The caldera has a diameter at the base of about 3 km and opens toward the west, where the Río Blanco flows. The eastern area of the caldera is populated and used for agriculture. The caldera is part of the Reserva Geobotánica Pululahua, which comprises the entire caldera and even areas to the north.

History

During the Quaternary was created by successive ejection of pyroclastic material of the stratovolcano Pululahua. The base diameter was about 5-6 km. After the collapse of the magma chamber, the current caldera was formed. During a subsequent phase of activity, the Rumiloma crater, which was destroyed in the wake of the emergence of two Lavadomen partially formed. Here, the Loma Pondoña is the younger of said Lavadomen. After retreat of the glaciers during the last ice age formed in the eastern part of the caldera, a lagoon of the date, however, there is nothing to see.

Location

The caldera is located in the municipalities of San Antonio de Pichincha Calacalí and the Municipio del Distrito Metropolitano de Quito, Pichincha Province.

Routes

In the south- eastern part of the caldera there is a trail that leads from a viewing platform on the crater floor. A street there is in the western area, which branches off from the E28 to the north.