The volcanoes Parinacota () of Pliocene to Holocene age and Ajoya () of Miocene age lie north and west of the lake, respectively; the northern shore of the lake is formed by lava flows from Parinacota volcano. While Parinacota is well preserved, Ajoya and Quisiquisini () on the eastern shore of the lake are moderately eroded. Farther south from Chungará Lake lies the high Guallatiri.