nevado

Nevado is a Spanish adjective meaning snow-covered or snowy. In mountaineering and geography it is commonly used to describe high peaks in the Andean region and other Spanish-speaking mountain ranges, often appearing as part of a proper name.

In toponymy, many peaks are officially known as Nevado X. The term signals permanent snow cover near the summit, though snow presence varies by season and climate. It is most commonly associated with tall, glaciated mountains in the Andes, where high elevations often sustain snowfields year-round.

Notable examples include Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia, a stratovolcano reaching 5,321 meters and known for its 1985 eruption that caused the Armero disaster; Nevado Huascarán in Peru, the country’s highest peak at 6,768 meters; Nevado Ojos del Salado on the Argentina–Chile border, at about 6,893 meters; and Nevado Coropuna in southern Peru, at 6,425 meters. These names reflect the mountain’s snowy appearance and are widely used in geographic and historical contexts.

Climatic and environmental factors influence the extent of permanent snow and glaciers on nevados. Across the region, many high peaks have seen changes in snow and ice cover due to warming temperatures, with regional variation in timing and magnitude. The term remains a common descriptor in geographic naming and field reports.