0826 ECUADOR - Tungurahua - part of Sangay National Park (UNESCO WHS)

The stratovolcano Tungurahua (from Quichua tunguri - throat, and rahua - fire), located in the Cordillera Oriental of the Andes of central Ecuador, 140km south of Quito, has restarted its activity on August 19, 1999, and is ongoing as of 2013, with several major eruptions since that period, the last starting on 15 July 2013. With its elevation of 5,023 m, Tungurahua just over tops the snow line, so its top is snow covered and did feature a small summit. Its eruptions are strombolian, accompanied by strong explosions, pyroclastic flows and sometimes lava flows.

0250 ECUADOR - The tsantsa, or how to keep trapped the enemy's soul

Not even the conquer of the Inca Empire couldn't enrich all conquistadors, so those less fortunate began to explore beyond the borders recently achieved. Thus in 1549 Hernando de Benavente led an expedition into the tropical forest of the Amazonian lowlands, to the East of the Andes (now in Ecuador and Peru), venturing into the territory of the Shuar tribe, at the headwaters of the Marañón River, and attempting to settle in it. Aborigines proved hostile, so, for their own good, the Spaniards abandoned the idea.