Cotopaxi is part of the Cordillera's Northern Volcanic Zone, the volcanism a product of the subduction of the Nazca Plate underneath the South American Plate.

How was the volcano Cotopaxi formed?

The modern stratovolcano was built above the scar left by a major debris avalanche which destroyed an older edifice about 5000 years ago. A rare high altitude hummingbird (Oreotrochilus chimborazo) has been discovered to live on the slopes of Cotopaxi between 13,000 and 15,000 ft where it nests on protected cliffs.

What is Cotopaxi made of?

Cotopaxi is a stratovolcano that has erupted 50 times since 1738. The 1877 eruption melted snow and ice on the summit, which produced mudflows that traveled 60 miles (100 km) from the volcano.