Cotopaxi is a potentially active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, located about 50 km (31 mi) south of Quito, Ecuador, South America. It is the second highest summit in the country, reaching a height of 5,897 m (19,347 ft). Nelson made an attempt on this mountain, but was not able to summit, because of horrible weather conditions, making it 300m short of the summit.
