Ecuador's Tungurahua Erupting

Posted by Nicholas Gill Feb 20, 2008

On Februaray 9th after two years of sitting dormant, Ecuador's 5,029 meter (16,575 foot) Tungurahua volcano erupted and blanketed several nearby villages in Ash. thousands have had to be evacuated from their homes surroudning the volcano, in villages of Puela and Choglontus.

Tungurahua, which means Throat of Fire in Quechua , stands proudly above a collection of 10 villages with a total population of 20,000. Ecuador's volcano lined Central Cordillera is home to the highest mountains in the country, many of them volcanoes.

This stratovolcano has been active since 1999, but major eruptions have only occured on a few occasions. When erupting, tour guides in nearby Baños are ready to take you to viewpoints for the best photos of Tungurahua volcanic cone spewing lava.