Mountain peaks of great beauty, sometimes snowy, can be seen near the city of Arequipa. This stratovolcano El Misti (5822 m), also known as Putin. On the upper level, symmetrical cone of the volcano, there are two concentric crater. The maximum outer diameter of the crater is 930 meters, the maximum diameter of the inner crater - 550 m.

Winds blowing between the volcano El Misti and mountain peak Cerro-Takun (4715 m) contributed to the formation of impressive parabolic dunes extending up to 20 kilometers downwind.

El Misti Volcano exhibits a periodic activity since the beginning of historical records the arrival of Europeans in Latin America. The first record of a strong eruption of El Misti dates back to 1438. Other eruptions were registered, starting with the middle of the XV century. Most recent activity, reportedly took place from May to October 1948. In 1959 there was an increase in temperature of groundwater. The latter activity was in 1985 - a powerful burst of steam from the inner crater six holes. Periodic fumarole activity is also frequently observed in the summit crater of the volcano.

The second largest city in Peru, Arequipa is only 18 km (horizontally) and 2, 5 km (vertically) from the top of the volcano. In addition, the city is located along the gorge of El Guarangal on the western slopes of the volcano. Factors such as the lack of permanent ice on the volcano, reducing the risk of floods, but a significant threat to the city of Arequipa still remains, since it is built on the ashes and mudflows of volcanic eruptions of El Misti more than 2,000 years ago.

Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP) in its report on June 24, 2014 reported that during the last 12 months, seismic activity of the volcano El Misti increased. Two seismic earthquakes have occurred in the last three months - May 19 and June 3, 2014.

The history of volcanic eruptions of El Misti, as well as its close proximity to the second largest city in Peru, making it one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world.