What Melts When The Snow Disappears

The Cotopaxi volcano has a central presence in not just Quito but all of Ecuador. This volcano can be viewed from a large part of the city and has profound cultural and historical significance in the indigenous community. For the years that I lived in Quito, I would wake up consistently to the view of the beautiful snow-covered volcano, which would immediately give me a sense of tranquility and appreciation for the simple things in life. Even after years of seeing it, the volcano consistently evoked the same sense of inner peace, as if each morning marked a new encounter rather than a repetition. However, what is disappearing is not the volcano itself, but the snow that surrounds it. This snow for local indigenous communities symbolizes the "Neck of the Moon" and life as it is an important source of water. Although Quito does not experience distinct seasons, the snow on Cotopaxi would recede and return unevenly throughout the year, leaving visible patches. The cause of this comes from various reasons with the main being global warming. The natural phenomenon “El Ñiño” severely affected Ecuador with droughts and during this time, the snow receded even more. This reshapes the relationship between humans and the mountain as indigenous communities as well as individuals such as myself are affected on a spiritual level while from a more broader lens all humans are affected as the water supply is harmed. Cotopaxi remains present, but as a reconfigured landscape whose service and relations no longer function as they once did.