Illimani (Aymara and Spanish pronunciation: [iʎiˈmani]) is a prominent fold mountain within the Cordillera Real of Bolivia, a subrange of the greater Andes, and located approximately 82 kilometres (51 mi) southeast of La Paz. With an elevation of 6,438 metres (21,120 ft) at its summit, it is the highest mountain in the Cordillera Real and the second-highest in Bolivia, surpassed by Nevado Sajama. The mountain lies in the transitional zone between the high Altiplano plateau to the west and the deep valleys of the Yungas region to the east. Its snow-capped massif consists of four major peaks arranged on a north–south axis. Its composition is of made of metamorphic rock and intrusive granites. Its formation results from the ancient folding associated with the Andean orogeny, as with the majority of the neighboring mountains in the cordillera. The snow line lies at about 4,570 metres (15,000 ft) above sea level, and glaciers are found on the northern face at 4,982 metres (16,350 ft). Illimani's topographic prominence, with its large massif and symmetrical snow-capped peaks towering over the valley around La Paz, have made it a landmark of the central Andes and as well as a cultural and geographical symbol for the city. In Andean tradition, Illimani is revered as an apu, a mythological tutelary spirit of the mountain regarded as the guardian of La Paz and protector of the balance between the Altiplano and the valleys. Illimani is one of the most favored peaks in Bolivia for mountaineers, attracting climbers for its technically demanding terrain and prominent snow-covered massif. Approximately 60% of those who reach the base camp proceed to the summit. The mountain has also been the site of several accidents; while no official records exist, available reports dating back to 1973 indicate an average of about three fatalities per decade, including fatal incidents involving two climbers in 1973, three in 2003, one in 2017, and one in 2021. The mountain has also been involved in several aviation accidents, notably Eastern Air Lines Flight 980, which struck Illimani in 1985, resulting in 29 casualties.
