Mt. Tungarahua near Banos, Ecuador

The snow-capped peak of Mt. Tungurahua emerges from the clouds. In the foreground is a small peak cloaked in vegetation.Banos is a small town of 12,000 set high in the mountains of Ecuador (5,971 feet). Banos is a popular destination for tourists exploring the mountainous terrain, but it also contains a vibrant weekly market and a beautiful cathedral. A major attraction of this region is the 16,479 ft. volcano peak of Tungurahua. Tungurahua, or Black Giant, is an active volcano that spewed ash and rocks for several months in 2003.Ecuador is known for a string of active volcanoes, making the country part of the Pacific “ring of fire.”