Nevado del Ruiz stands at 5321 meters in Colombia, part of the Andes, South America.
This peak is classified as a Stratovolcano.
Elevation
5321 m
Prominence
— m
Coordinates
4.895000, -75.322222
Type
stratovolcano
On this page
Elevation Comparison
Volcanic
About This Mountain
Nevado del Ruiz (5321m) is a stratovolcano in the Andes, Colombia. Grade 3/5: strenuous climb with technical sections demanding experience. This stratovolcano rises steeply from the surrounding terrain with a classic conical profile.
The topographic contour map of Nevado del Ruiz (5321m) in the Andes shows near-circular, closely spaced contours indicating steep conical slopes. Contour lines are drawn at 100m intervals, with index contours (thicker lines) every 500m. The hypsometric color scale ranges from green (lower elevations) through yellow and orange to white (highest elevations near the 5,321m summit). Above 5,000m, the estimated snow line at this latitude, contours transition to cooler tones indicating permanent snow and ice.
Elevation Profile
The east–west elevation profile of Nevado del Ruiz (5321m) in the Andes shows the terrain cross-section through the summit at 5,321m. The color gradient transitions from green (valley floor) to white (summit zone), with the red summit marker indicating the peak. The dashed blue snow line at 5,000m marks the approximate elevation above which permanent snow persists year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
The contour map uses a hypsometric color scale where green represents lower elevations, yellow and orange indicate mid-range altitudes, and white marks the highest zones near the summit. Thicker contour lines (index contours) are drawn at wider intervals to help you quickly estimate elevation.
The contour map of Nevado del Ruiz (5321m) uses a 100m contour interval. This means each line represents a 100m change in elevation. Closely spaced contours indicate steeper terrain, while widely spaced contours show gentler slopes.
The elevation profile is a cross-section through Nevado del Ruiz (5321m) from west to east, passing through the summit at 5,321m. It reveals the mountain's shape, steepness, and relative height compared to the surrounding terrain. The horizontal axis shows distance in kilometers from the peak.
At Nevado del Ruiz (5321m)'s latitude (5°), the estimated permanent snow line is approximately 5,000m. Since Nevado del Ruiz (5321m) reaches 5,321m, about 321m of the mountain extends above the snow line. This is shown as a dashed blue line on the elevation profile.
As a stratovolcano, Nevado del Ruiz (5321m) was built by alternating layers of lava and ash. The summit crater is visible on the contour map as a small depression within the tightly spaced concentric contours near the peak.
