Taapaca is a volcanic complex in northern Chile's

Arica Parinacota Region . It is part of the Central Volcanic Zone of the
Andes, one of four distinct volcanic chains in South America.   The town of Putre lies at the southwestern foot of the volcano. Like other volcanoes of the Central Volcanic Zone, Taapaca formed from the
subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South America Plate . It lies on the western margin of the Altiplano high plateau, on top of older volcanic and sedimentary units. Taapaca reaches a height of 5,860 metres (19,230 ft) above sea level. It is usually covered by snow but does not feature glaciers . It consists primarily of many overlapping lava domes that formed during several stages of eruptions, starting during the Pliocene . The emplacement of lava domes was often followed by their collapse and block-and-ash avalanches. The most recent eruption is dated to 320