Volcán Parinacota and Lago Chungará

Presenting the magnificent El Volcán Parinacota... If you wonder why I flew from the Peruvian capital city of Lima to the southernmost city of Tacna, then crossed the Peru-Chile border on a bus from Tacna to Arica (the northernmost city in Chile), and finally rode a van to la Provincia de Parinacota, this picture will explain what motivated me to take such a long trip. In the picture you see both Volcán Parinacota and Lago Chungará. In the original Aymara language, Parinacota is called Parina Quta, which means "flamingo lake," and Chungará in Aymara is called "Chunkara," which means "pointed mountain." I had to take Diamox as I was suffering from mild altitude sickness, and for an hour or so I couldn't use my camera due to the headache. I wished I started taking the drug a day before I started the ascent. The lake is 15,000 feet above sea level. I was so moved by the view I couldn't help the tears of total amazement and pure joy, even as I was battling nausea due to the very thin air. For more pictures, follow me on Instagram (@wheretotakepictures) or visit my travel blog: www.wheretotakepictures.com/

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