View source for Azufral

{{Short description|Volcano in Colombia}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name              = Azufral
| other_name        = Volcán Azufral
| photo             = Azufral.jpg
| photo_size        = 
| photo_alt         = 
| photo_caption     = Azufral in 1989
| elevation_m       = 4070
| elevation_ref     = <ref name=gvp>{{cite gvp|vn=351090|title=Azufral|access-date=January 19, 2007}}</ref>
| prominence_m      =
| prominence_ref    = 
| listing           = [[List of volcanoes in Colombia|Volcanoes of Colombia]] 
| range             = [[Cordillera Occidental (Colombia)|Western Ranges]]<br>&nbsp;[[Andes]]
| location          = [[Nariño Department|Nariño]], [[Colombia]]
| map               = Colombia
| map_alt           = 
| map_caption       = Location of Azufral in Colombia
| map_size          = 
| label             = 
| label_position    = 
| coordinates       = {{coord|1|05|N|77|41|W|type:mountain_region:CO-NAR_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| range_coordinates = 
| coordinates_ref   = <ref name=gvp/>
| topo              = 
| type              = [[Stratovolcano]]
| age               = [[Holocene]]
| volcanic_region   = [[Northern Volcanic Zone]]
| volcanic_belt     = [[Andean Volcanic Belt]]
| last_eruption     = 930 BC(?)<ref name=gvp/>
| first_ascent      = 
| easiest_route     = 
}}

'''Azufral''' is a [[stratovolcano]] located in the [[Departments of Colombia|department]] of [[Nariño Department|Nariño]] in southern [[Colombia]], {{Convert|12|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} west of the town of [[Túquerres]]. It is the only volcano of the [[Cordillera Occidental (Colombia)|Western Ranges]] of the Colombian [[Andes]]. Its name derives from the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] word for [[sulfur]], ''azufre''. The volcano is considered semi-dormant but there are numerous [[fumarole]]s in the summit crater. The summit of the volcano has an altitude of {{convert|4070|m|ft}},<ref name=gvp/> and the north-western side of the crater contains a crescent-shaped lake named ''Laguna Verde'' ({{langx|en|Green Lake}}) at {{Convert|3970|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}. The lake is {{convert|1100|m|mi|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|600|m|ft}} wide.<ref name=eltiempo>{{in lang|es}} [http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-313812 "El Azufral, seis años como reserva", ''El Tiempo'', June 12, 1996] Retrieved May 2, 2011</ref> and its bright green color is a result of the sulfur and iron-based deposits in the crater. There are also two other much smaller lakes in the crater, ''Laguna Negra'' ({{langx|en|Black Lake}}) and ''Laguna Cristal'' ({{langx|en|Crystal Lake}}).

The volcano lies within a nature reserve, the Reserva Natural del Azufral, created in 1990.<ref name=eltiempo/> The reserve covers an area of {{Convert|5800|ha|km2|0|sp=us}} and is free of charge to enter. As Azufral is semi-dormant, there are no restrictions on ascending the volcano and visiting ''Laguna Verde'': there is a road that climbs to within {{Convert|1.5|km|mi|0|sp=us}} from the summit, and the remaining distance can be covered on foot via a trail.

== Gallery ==
{{left|<gallery mode=packed heights=180px>
File:Azufral volcán datos.JPG|Entrance
File:Azufral volcán Paisaje.JPG|Landscape
File:CAMINO AL AZUFRAL 20.JPG|Sulfur
</gallery>}}
{{left|<gallery mode=packed heights=170px>
File:Laguna Verde, Panorámica 3.JPG|Lagunas Negra and Verde
File:Laguna Negra - Volcan Azufral.jpg|Laguna Negra
File:Laguna Verde, panorámica 4.JPG|Laguna Verde
</gallery>}}
{{clearleft}}

== See also ==
* [[List of volcanoes in Colombia]]
* [[List of volcanoes by elevation]]

== References ==
{{commonscat|Azufral}}
{{reflist}}

{{Biodiversity of Colombia|state=collapsed}}
{{Treasures of Colombia|state=collapsed}}
{{Volcanoes of Colombia|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Andean Volcanic Belt]]
[[Category:Mountains of Colombia]]
[[Category:Stratovolcanoes of Colombia]]
[[Category:Quaternary Colombia]]
[[Category:Quaternary stratovolcanoes]]
[[Category:Geography of Nariño Department]]
[[Category:Nature reserves in Colombia]]
[[Category:Four-thousanders of the Andes]]
[[Category:Holocene stratovolcanoes]]

{{Colombia-geo-stub}}