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What can you see from Cotopaxi?

An ice-capped stratovolcano that has erupted 87 times in recorded history.

-0.6806, -78.4381 · 5,893 m · Ecuador Copernicus GLO-30 · 2,626,442 terrain samples
310 kmMaximum visible distance
182 kmAverage visible distance
5,893 mObserver elevation
120Named features in view

From Cotopaxi, the terrain-limited line of sight reaches up to 310 km. The single farthest piece of visible terrain lies 310 km to the east-southeast (bearing 104°), at 300 m elevation. These results account for Earth's curvature and standard atmospheric refraction, computed from 30-meter resolution Copernicus GLO-30 elevation data across 2,626,442 terrain samples.

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Visibility by direction

The horizon is most open toward the west-northwest, where sightlines run 290 km on average; terrain closes the view down fastest to the southwest, at 74.2 km.

Visible distance by compass direction from Cotopaxi
Visible distance by compass direction from Cotopaxi — outer ring ≈ 310 km.
N126 km
NNE149 km
NE90.3 km
ENE150 km
E255 km
ESE285 km
SE281 km
SSE164 km
S136 km
SSW134 km
SW74.2 km
WSW141 km
W207 km
WNW290 km
NW258 km
NNW166 km

Farthest named landmarks in view

120 named peaks, hills and headlands stand inside this viewshed. These are the farthest ones you could pick out on a clear day:

LandmarkVisible distanceDirectionElevation
Cerro Corralitos253 kmWSW · 254°475 m
Cabo de San Francisco235 kmNW · 309°0 m
Cerros de Balsamo211 kmW · 265°111 m
Loma Largo206 kmNNE · 28°3,332 m
Loma La Gorgona206 kmNNE · 27°3,466 m
Loma El Caliente205 kmNNE · 28°3,380 m

About Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is Ecuador's second-highest peak at 5,897 metres and ranks among the world's highest active volcanoes. Its first documented eruption was in 1534, and it erupts regularly: its most violent historical events occurred in 1742, 1744, 1768, and 1877, the latter sending lahars more than 100 kilometers into the Pacific and Amazon basins, draining entire valleys.

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Frequently asked questions

How far can you see from Cotopaxi?

On a clear day the terrain allows a line of sight of up to 310 km from Cotopaxi. The average visible distance across all 360 directions is 182 km. Atmospheric conditions (haze, humidity) usually reduce practical visibility below the terrain-limited maximum.

What is the farthest point visible from Cotopaxi?

The farthest terrain visible from Cotopaxi lies 310 km to the east-southeast, at an elevation of 300 m. Earth's curvature and atmospheric refraction are accounted for in this calculation.

How high is Cotopaxi?

The observation point at Cotopaxi sits at 5,893 m above sea level (Copernicus GLO-30 elevation model).

How is this visibility map calculated?

UpToWhere traces lines of sight in 360 directions from the observer using 30 m-resolution Copernicus terrain data, correcting for Earth curvature and standard atmospheric refraction. You can run the same analysis for any point on Earth with the free calculator.

Run your own analysis

Want to know what you can see from your house, a summit you're planning to climb, or a plot of land? UpToWhere computes the same 360° viewshed for any point on Earth in seconds — free.

Try the viewshed calculator

Nearby & related viewpoints