5020 mts above sea level

The highest point on the way was at 5020 mts near the Tapaca volcano. The views around were amazing. We could see the colorful mountains around the Suri Plaza far in the distance.
Around this area, we saw a lot of llaretas (small green plants). These fascinating plants grow (extremely slowly) between 3200 and 5000m near to the ground and on north faces where temperatures are slightly higher. They like sandy soils. Some are estimated to be over 3000 years old. They are extremely compact and can cover 30 sq.m of ground. Dead llaretas are excellent fuel thanks to their high calorific value. In the past, alive llaretas were also harvested for fuel (after being left to dry for about a year), especially in remote mining areas. They are now (successfully) protected by law.Weiterlesen