Last eruption Unknown Parent range Andes | Elevation 6,140 m | |
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First ascent December 12, 2000 - Robert Ayers, Tony Brake, Paul Doherty, Paul Morgan - United States Similar Cerro El Cóndor, Falso Azufre, Cerro El Muerto, Cordón del Azufre, Sierra Nevada | ||
Sierra Nevada, also known as Sierra Nevada de Lagunas Bravas, is a major ignimbrite-lava dome complex which lies in both Chile and Argentina in one of the most remote parts of the Central Andes. Activity in the complex started in Argentina and formed two stratovolcanoes. Later, 12 or more vents formed, some with craters up to 400 metres (1,300 ft) wide. Lava flows up to 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) long with flow ridges are also found. It covers a total area of 225 km². Together with Cerro el Condor and Peinado it forms the Culampaja line, a line of volcanoes that reaches Cerro Blanco. Strong seismic attenuation is observed beneath Sierra Nevada. Hydrothermally altered rocks in Sierra Nevada may be the source of sulfate and As in the Juncalito and Negro rivers.
Sierra Nevada is a remote peak on the Chile-Argentina border. As such it was probably the second last 6000m+ peak in the Andes to be climbed, the first recorded ascent being in December 2000. The snowline in the area lies at 5,800 metres (19,000 ft) altitude at Cumbre del Laudo.