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There is much lovely scenery to enjoy in the Andes. The Sangay National Park in Ecuador boasts several volcanoes.
The UNESCO World Heritage List includes more than a thousand properties with outstanding universal value. They are all part of the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
Official facts
- Country: Ecuador
- Date of Inscription: 1983
- Category: Natural site
UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre’s short description of site no. 260:
“With its outstanding natural beauty and two active volcanoes, the park illustrates the entire spectrum of ecosystems, ranging from tropical rainforests to glaciers, with striking contrasts between the snowcapped peaks and the forests of the plains. Its isolation has encouraged the survival of indigenous species such as the mountain tapir and the Andean condor. “
My visit
According to Wikipedia the park contains two active volcanoes (Tungurahua and Sangay) and also one extinct volcano El Altar. The highest peak is 5319 meters above sea level. The park further contains glaciers, volcanic landscapes, tropical rainforests, cloud forests, wetlands, grasslands, and one of the largest regions of páramo (high elevation moorlands) in Ecuador.
I went to several towns in and outside the Sangay National Park on my South America trip in 1987. I particularly remember the splendid views from my hotel room to the almost perfect cone-shaped volcano of Chimborazo and the blown-up crater of Altar (pictured above) – both visible in the clean and clear air.
