A year after threatening to erupt, the Cotopaxi Volcano has been calmly letting off steam. Ash clouds no longer threaten air traffic and people have moved back to their farms on the slopes that stand within the area of probable lahar flow. There is still expectation that the volcano will fully erupt but the process could take years rather than weeks or months. This photo was taken after the National Park reopened but before it was possible to hike up the slopes to the Refugio.
