Visiting Cotopaxi has been a dream of mine for a while, and seeing it in person was even more incredible than I ever could have imagined. Towering 19,347 feet above sea level, this mountain is the second-tallest active volcano in the world. As we hiked to base camp with our guide I was breathless both from being at 15,000 feet and looking at the glaciers that blanketed the landscape before us. It was a moment of pure awe, tempered by the knowledge of its fragility.
In the last 30 years, the Andean glaciers have lost 30-50% of their mass, Cotopaxi being no exception losing 45% between 1976-2006. Cotopaxi alone has lost enough ice to fill 132,000 Olympic swimming pools in just a few decades.
This retreat goes beyond the loss of beauty, it will dismantle ecosystems and threaten livelihoods. During dry seasons, meltwater sustains the Páramo, or Andean Moorland, and rivers that provide water for irrigation, drinking, and ecosystems. Without these glaciers, high-altitude communities and 50% of Ecuador’s population who depend on this water supply face an uncertain future.
Standing before Cotopaxi, I felt a drive to further engage with and deepen my understanding of global and local climate impacts with the intention of finding ways to help create a more hopeful future.
Click here to learn more about Cotopaxi’s work with the people and communities in Ecuador 🗻
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guys!!!! it’s lucy’s birthday!!!!!! 🌞
to know you is to love you, thank you for being my adventure buddy. you make everything better, I hope you have the best day.
