Scaling the Skies: The Journey Up Putana Volcano- Among Earth's Highest Roads on Earth
Volcán Putana is a stratovolcano located in the Antofagasta region of Chile. A former mine access road climbs up to 5.779m (18,959ft) above the sea level. It’s one of the highest roads on Earth.
Located in northern Chile on the border with Bolivia, the volcano is sometimes referred to as Jorqencal or Machuca. Strong fumarolic activity is present at the summit crater and is visible from far distance, and the volcano has large sulfur deposits.
This sulfur was mined at the summit of the volcano, which is thus accessible by a road. The former mine access road, heavily used by trucks, tops out at 5.779m (18,959ft) above the sea level, just below the summit. Due its inactivity, the road seems no longer passable. It’s one of the highest roads of the country,
Pic: Birgit Droste