What do the colors on the contour map of Nevado Quelccaya (5680m) mean?

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.

What is the contour interval for Nevado Quelccaya (5680m)?

The contour map of Nevado Quelccaya (5680m) 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.

What does the elevation profile of Nevado Quelccaya (5680m) show?

The elevation profile is a cross-section through Nevado Quelccaya (5680m) from west to east, passing through the summit at 5,680m. 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.

What is the snow line on Nevado Quelccaya (5680m)?

At Nevado Quelccaya (5680m)'s latitude (14°), the estimated permanent snow line is approximately 4,800m. Since Nevado Quelccaya (5680m) reaches 5,680m, about 880m of the mountain extends above the snow line. This is shown as a dashed blue line on the elevation profile.

Nevado Quelccaya (5680m)

Nevado Quelccaya stands at 5680 meters in Peru, part of the Cordillera Blanca, South America. This peak is classified as a plateau.

Elevation

5680 m

Prominence

— m

Coordinates

-13.933056, -70.828056

Type

plateau

Elevation Comparison

About This Mountain

Nevado Quelccaya (5680m) is a plateau peak in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru. Grade 2/5: moderate trek requiring good fitness. A significant Andean peak offering panoramic views across highland valleys and snowfields.

Routes

Ice Cap Route (Nevado Quelccaya) 2

14.00 km · 5.0h

Seasonal Conditions

Topographic Analysis

Contour Map

The topographic contour map of Nevado Quelccaya (5680m) in the Cordillera Blanca shows contours reflecting the unique geological character of the terrain. 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 5,680m summit). Above 4,800m, 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 Quelccaya (5680m) in the Cordillera Blanca shows the terrain cross-section through the summit at 5,680m. 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 4,800m marks the approximate elevation above which permanent snow persists year-round.