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The high peaks of the Andes form the backbone of South America and were formed from the subduction of the Nazca Plate under the South American Plate, the south-central Andes also includes several major volcanoes. One of the most active border volcanoes is Volcan Maipo, the summit of which rests in the large Diamante Caldera. This photo taken from the International Space Station shows the volcano near the southern hemisphere spring equinox. Lake Diamante, just east of Maipo’s peak, is still ice covered.

Credit: NASA/JPL.