findings on Andean mountains were made on Acamarachi and Pular (where ceremonial platforms were found), Cerro Colorado, Juriques, Llullaillaco, Miniques and Quimal. Sites had pirca structures and firewood, and some may have been part of a signaling system. Many were in use during the Inca civilization, and on Quimal artifacts correlative to the Spanish period have been found. Aconcagua, Coropuna, Chachani, El Plomo, El Toro, Llullaillaco, Mercedario and Picchu Picchu are other mountains with Inca sanctuaries. The area around Licancabur was first settled by the Atacameno people, presumably because of the water in local canyons. The Incas, under Yawar Waqaq, were followed by the Spanish during the early 16th century in the region; both were looking for yareta and chinchillas. Climbing Unlike neighbouring mountains, Licancabur is difficult to climb; its upper part slopes steeply, and the ground is loose and prone to landslides. Some of the instability may be due to earthquakes, snow, wind or geothermal effects (resulting in thermal stress), and it frustrated an attempt of an engineer at Chuquicamata to climb the mountain in the 1920s. Ascent from the Bolivian side takes six hours plus half that time for the descent and requires caution during winter, although the mountain can be climbed during any month. Rumours about a "staircase", later probably obliterated by landslides and rockfalls, were reported in 1955. In 1953, a road climbed to . The first recorded ascent of the volcano was in 1884 by Severo Titicocha, who was accompanied by Juan Santelices (a delegate of the Chilean government) in an 1886 ascent. Landmines have been reported from the Chilean side. See also List of volcanoes in Bolivia List of volcanoes in Chile List of Andean peaks with known pre-Columbian ascents Notes References Sources General sources NASA Licancabur Expedition: Exploring the Highest Lakes on Earth External links Licancabur, tour 2003 Lake Licancabur Licancabur, cerca de Marte – Mercuria Calama article – (In Spanish). Volcanoes of Antofagasta Region Volcanoes of Potosí Department Andean Volcanic Belt Stratovolcanoes of Bolivia Stratovolcanoes of Chile Subduction volcanoes Bolivia–Chile border International mountains of South America Mountains of Chile Volcanic crater lakes Polygenetic volcanoes Holocene stratovolcanoes Quaternary South America Five-thousanders of the Andes