Ojos del Salado is one of the highest accessible points by car on Earth
Ojos del Salado is a massive stratovolcano on the Argentina-Chile border and the highest volcano in the world at 6,891m (22,608ft) above sea level. This mountain has been the scene of several records for attaining the highest altitude aboard a land vehicle. It’s one of the highest accessible points by car on Earth.
What is the tallest volcano in the Andes called and how tall is it?
This volcano is the second highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere and the highest in Chile. It has very dry conditions with snow only remaining on the peak during winter. Located about 600 kilometres (370 mi) north of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere at 6,962 m (22,841 ft) above sea level, it's one of the highest roads of Chile.
Where is Ojos del Salado?
The volcano is located in the Andes mountain range, to the south of the Atacama Desert. It links the Atacama Region, on the eastern part of Chile, and Catamarca, a province in northwest Argentina.
Can you drive to Ojos del Salado by car?
The volcano has been the scene of several records for attaining the highest altitude aboard a land vehicle. The first record was set by a German expedition with several vehicles, setting a mark of 6,646 m (21,804 ft) by March 2007. One month later, on 21 April 2007, Gonzalo Bravo G. and Eduardo Canales Moya (from Chile) beat such record, setting a new one with 6,688 m (21,942 ft) above sea level. To reach this elevation, the car included wheel, tire, and suspension changes and also packed a supercharged G16A 4-cylinder underhood. They got the record in the third attempt, after encountering weather difficulties the first time and an engine fire the second time. The rig that they drove was a 1986 Suzuki Samurai. It was heavily modified by Gonzalo, adding stronger axles, lower gear ratios, air lockers, bigger tires and Supercharger. The first high altitude record for trucks was set by a team around Matthias Jeschke. They drove at 6.675 meters (21,899 ft) with a Mercedes Benz Zetros Truck and established a high altitude record not only for trucks but also for diesel-powered motors. In 2024, a truck powered by solar energy of the Gebrüder Weiss Peak Evolution Team set a new world altitude record for e-vehicles at 6,500 meters above sea level. They drove up to the western ridge of Ojos del Salado in their truck powered exclusively by solar energy. Never has an e-vehicle been driven so high. “This is a record not only for this technology, but for our years of research work and for the very future of mobility,” says Patrik Koller, CEO, and developer at Peak Evolution.
Can you drive to Ojos del Salado by motorcycle?
The mountain was also the place where a motorcycling world altitude record was set. Walter Colebatch, Lukas Matzinger and Barton Churchill set the world altitude record for motorcycles whilst utilizing lighting systems from HiD50.com. On the 18 March 2012, at 2:30 pm the Husaberg Adventure Team (Walter J Colebatch – UK, Barton Churchill – USA, Lukas Matzinger – Austria) set a new world record for altitude reached by motorcycle of 6,361 m / 20,869 ft, with a Husaberg FE 570 motorcycle on the snow covered volcano. This motorcycling record improves the previous best of 6,245 m / 20,489 set in 2008 by an Indian team in the Himalayas by 116 meters / 380 ft. Most recently, Chilean Gianfranco Bianchi reached an altitude of 6,472 m (21,233 ft) with a Suzuki RMZ 450 and set the latest record for motorbikes on 19 April 2015. In 2024, a truck powered by solar energy of the Gebrüder Weiss Peak Evolution Team set a new world altitude record for e-vehicles at 6,500 meters above sea level. They drove up to the western ridge of Ojos del Salado in their truck powered exclusively by solar energy. Never has an e-vehicle been driven so high. “This is a record not only for this technology, but for our years of research work and for the very future of mobility,” says Patrik Koller, CEO, and developer at Peak Evolution.
Can you drive to Ojos del Salado by bike?
By bike, Guido Kunze rode 6,233m up the Ojos del Salado volcano to set the new world record. The 48-year-old ascended 6,233m up beating Andre Hauschke’s 2010 record by 150m. In total Kunze pedaled 342.77km in just over 37 hours from Bahia Inglesa on the Pacific coast to the northwest ridge of the volcano, ascending 6,899m in total.
Is the climb to Ojos del Salado dangerous?
The climb has terrible conditions. Besides the amazing height and lack of oxygen, the most difficult thing is the variety of terrain that they had to drive through. The terrain on the Volcano included steep climbs, huge rocks, snow, glaciers and deep sand. Although these are challenging in their own right, they are usually not found all in the same trip. Given the arid, desert conditions from its location, there is rarely snow on the zone except during the winter months. It’s a very remote area and obtaining medical assistance for any problem is a slow process, likely to take a day or more. There is almost no chance of a helicopter rescue. During the climb, the vehicles endure hurricane-strength winds, temperatures that reach minus 30 degrees Centigrade or minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit not to mention the limited air that goes with such altitudes and the difficulty of maneuvering over glaciers, fissured rock cliffs and volcanic sand. It’s one of the highest roads of South America.
Pic: https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/339918#image-2