Nevado Mismi is located in Peru in South America. It is one of the highest peaks in one of the world’s deepest valleys. The volcanic peak is the furthest source of the Amazon river and it is also home to many glaciers, although these are shrinking. Curious to know more about this important mountain? Here are some of the most interesting facts about Nevado Mismi in Peru.
7 Interesting Facts about Nevado Mismi in Peru
1. Nevado Mismi is in the Andes
Nevado Mismi is a mountain peak that tops out at 5,597 metres (18,363 ft) high. It is located in the Chila mountain range, which is in the Andes in Peru. The mountain is 160km (99 miles) west of Lake Titicaca and 700km (435 miles) southeast of Lima, the capital city of Peru.
2. Nevado Mismi is part of a very deep canyon
Nevado Mismi is one of the highest points of Colca Canyon. The Colca Canyon floor drops from 3,630 metres (11,910 ft) above sea level making it one of the deepest canyons in the world. It is around twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
3. Nevado Mismi is a volcano
Nevado Mismi is most likely a conical hill or mountain built around a vent that connects with reservoirs of molten rock below the surface of the Earth. Other volcanos in the Colca Canyon include Chachani and Ubinas.
4. The source of the Amazon is located on Nevado Mismi
During a 2001 National Geographic expedition, explorers discovered that Nevado Mismi was the furthest source of the Amazon river. The waters from Nevado Mismi flow into the Quebrada Carhuasanta and Apacheta rivers, which flow into the Río Apurímac which is a tributary of the Ucayali which later joins the Marañon to form the Amazon proper. Due to the many glacial streams that pour from the mountain, it is difficult to tell which stream is the exact source of the Amazon, however, Wikipedia reports that a wooden cross marks the source. However, there is another iron cross on the mountain marking another source.
5. The best time is climb is the dry season
The rainy season in Peru is from December to March. Therefore, the best time to climb Nevado Mismi is from April to November.
6. You can summit the mountain in three hours
A trail called Camiño a Nevado Mismi leads to the summit. You need around two days to get there on foot. From the base camp, it is a three-hour climb up to the summit. It takes one hour to descend the mountain.
7. The glaciers on the mountain are melting
There are several glaciers on Nevado Mismi, for example Quehuisha, Huilcayo and Choquecorao – the Quehuisha Glacier has decreased significantly. This melting is consistent with the global trend.
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