Mount Chimborazo
| Mount Chimborazo | |
|---|---|
| Elevation: | 6,290±20 m (20,640±70 ft) |
| Latitude: | 01° 28′ S |
| Longitude: | 78° 48′ W |
| Location: | Ecuador |
| Range: | Andes |
| First ascent: | 1880 by Edward Whymper guided by J. and L. Carrel. |
| Easiest route: | glacier/snow climb |
Mount Chimborazo is an extinct volcano located in the Andes mountains of central Ecuador.
The mountain's claim to fame relies on a peculiarity of the Earth's circumference at the equator. Since the Earth bulges at the equator and Chimborazo is just one degree south, this means the summit of Chimborazo is the furthest point from the center of the Earth. However, since the elevation of mountains are given in relation to mean sea level, Everest (8,850 m; 29,035 feet) is given the glory of highest point on Earth. Chimborazo is higher than any other mountain in the Americas north of it.
Chimborazo's reputation as such a high mountain led to many attempts on its summit during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries until it was climbed by Edward Whymper and the brothers Carrel in 1880.