Pico Cristóbal Colón

Pico Cristóbal Colón
Pico Cristóbal Colón in 2008
Elevation	5,700 m (18,701 ft) [1]
Prominence	5,508 m (18,071 ft) Ranked 5th
Listing	Country high point Ultra
Location
Pico Cristóbal Colón Location in Colombia
Location	Magdalena Department,  Colombia
Range	Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Coordinates	10°50′18″N 73°41′12″W / 10.83833°N 73.68667°W / 10.83833; -73.68667Coordinates: 10°50′18″N 73°41′12″W / 10.83833°N 73.68667°W / 10.83833; -73.68667
Climbing
First ascent	1939 by Wood, Bakerwell and Praolini
Easiest route	basic snow/ice climb

Pico Cristóbal Colón is the highest mountain in Colombia and the fifth most prominent in the world (see list of peaks by prominence). The nearest peak that is higher is Cayambe, some 1,288 kilometres (800 mi) away. There is a permanent snowcap on this peak and on the nearby mountains. It is part of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta range, along with Pico Simón Bolívar. The peak is named for Christopher Columbus.

Pico Cristóbal Colón and Pico Simón Bolívar are the two highest peaks in Colombia and are very nearly equal in elevation. It is possible that nearby Pico Simón Bolívar is higher than Pico Cristóbal Colón. If so, then Pico Simón Bolívar is the true highest mountain in Colombia and the fifth most prominent in the world.^[2]

Pico Cristóbal Colón was first climbed in 1939 by W. Wood, A. Bakerwell and E. Praolini.^[3]

References

1. ^ The elevation given here is based on SRTM data. Colombian topographic maps show 5650m contours but no 5700m contours. A figure of 5775m is frequently quoted.
2. ^ Andes site
3. ^ http://www.peakware.com/peaks.html?pk=57