SPACEPHOTOS

Volcanoes, mountains, and deeply entrenched river valleys appear in this near-vertical photograph of the Arequipa region of southern Peru. The large, multipeaked, snow-capped volcanic structure ascending more than 19 870 feet (6055 meters) above sea level (center of the photograph) is Nevada de Chachani, directly north of which is the large caldera of an unidentified volcano. Southeast of Nevada de Chachani and across the Chili River valley stands El Misti Volcano, a dormant volcano that last erupted in 1870. El Misti (usually snow-capped, but not in this photograph), a cone volcano widely recognized in the Inca religion, has provided inspiration for Peruvian legends and poetry. El Misti rises 19 098 feet (5825 meters) above sea level. Arequipa, one of Peru’s larger cities with a population of more than 100 000, sits along the western flank at the foot of El Misti. The city is located on a narrow plain and provides goods and services to southern Peru and northern Chile. Chief exports of this region are leather goods, textiles, foodstuffs, and wool.