UPSC Prelims 2026 · Question 21 of 96
UPSC Prelims 2026 question on Tungurahua Volcano Geopark
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2026
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectGeography
- TopicWorld Map-Based Geography
- DifficultyEasy
- TypeDirect
Tungurahua Volcano, which was declared a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2025, is situated in which one among the following countries?
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Answer: A. Ecuador
Tungurahua, meaning 'Throat of Fire' in the Quechua language, is an active stratovolcano situated in Ecuador's Eastern Andes (Cordillera Oriental), around 140 km south of Quito.
In 2025, the Tungurahua volcanic region and its surrounding terrain were recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark, becoming Ecuador's second geopark after Imbabura.
Tungurahua is significant because it is an active stratovolcano located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a major region in physical geography and plate tectonics. The topic gained further relevance after Ecuador added two new UNESCO Global Geoparks in 2025. Hence option (a) is correct; the volcano does not lie in Peru, Bolivia or Colombia.