Chimborazo

I am a very, very big mountain. I reach high up into the sky. I wear a bright white hat of snow and ice all year long. My hat stays on even when the sun is warm. I am the tallest mountain in my country, Ecuador. I have a special name. I am the great mountain, Chimborazo. It is so nice to meet you.

A long, long, long time ago, I had a fiery heart deep inside the Earth. I was made by fire, like a big surprise. But now, I am a very sleepy volcano. My last big sleepy rumble was a long time ago, around the year 550. I have a secret just for you. Because the Earth is round like a ball, my snowy top is the closest spot on the whole Earth to the sun and all the sparkly stars. Isn't that neat? One day, a curious explorer came to see me. His name was Alexander von Humboldt. He visited me on June 23rd, 1802, to learn about my plants and look at the sky from my peak.

Today, soft, fuzzy animals called vicuñas run and play on my sides. They love living here. My snowy hat melts just a little bit to give fresh water to all the people and farms down below. The water helps yummy food and pretty flowers grow. I love watching over everyone from my tall, tall peak. I hope that when you see a big mountain, you remember me. And I hope you feel curious about our wonderful world, from the green grass all the way up to the twinkling stars.