Soaring over 19,000 feet above sea level, Cotopaxiis one of the world’s highest volcanos, and the namesSoaring over 19,000 feet above sea level, Cotopaxi is one of the world’s highest volcanos, and the namesake of an extraordinary national park. Only 30 or so miles south of Quito , the capital city of Ecuador , more than 80,000 acres of pristine Andean grasslands are set aside for preservation. The scenery is punctuated not only by the snow-capped Cotopaxi, but by two other volcanos as well—Sincholagua and Rumiñahui. The wild horses that graze around the base of Cotopaxi are descended from those that the Spanish conquistadors brought here after the start of their colonization of the Americas in the 16th century. The roughly 200 horses that roam free in the park today are the offspring of horses who strayed from the area’s early hacienda settlements. Their bloodlines are said to be mostly Andalusian mingled with a bit of Berber and Jennet breeds... See more See less
