With an altitude of 5,897 meters above sea level, Cotopaxi is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world; only competing against two other volcanoes for the title. Cotopaxi was also once worshiped by Ecuador’s ancient civilizations, thought to be the bringer of rain and prosperous crops; and the top of Cotopaxi was considered to be where God resided. It was first climbed in 1872, and the ascent has only gotten a lot more popular since then.