Andes

The Andes (/ˈændiːz/ AN-deez), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (Spanish: Cordillera de los Andes; Quechua: Anti) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, stretching along the western edge of South America. This massive range is about 8,900 kilometres (5,500 mi) long and can be as wide as 700 kilometres (430 mi). It passes through seven countries: Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela.

The Andes contain some of the world's highest peaks and plateaus. Its tallest mountain, Aconcagua in Argentina, soars to nearly 7,000 metres (22,800 ft) above sea level, making it the highest mountain outside of Asia. The Altiplano Plateau is the world’s second-highest plateau. Many major cities, such as Bogotá, La Paz, and Santiago, are nestled in the Andes’ high valleys.

These mountains are also home to some of the world’s highest volcanoes, including Ojos del Salado, which reaches over 6,800 metres (22,300 ft). The Andes are part of the larger American Cordillera, a chain of mountain ranges that form the western backbone of the Americas.

Etymology

The name Andes may come from the Quechua word anti, meaning "east". This refers to Antisuyu, one of the four regions of the Inca Empire. Another idea is that it comes from the Aymara language word anta, meaning "copper".

The word cordillera is a Spanish term meaning "rope". It is used to describe parts of the Andes and the whole mountain range along the western side of the North and South American continents.

Geography

The Andes mountain range is the longest continental mountain system in the world, stretching about 7,000 km (4,300 mi) along the western edge of South America. It spans seven countries and varies in width from 200 km to 700 km. The Andes include some very tall peaks like Aconcagua in Argentina, Huascarán in Peru, and Illimani in Bolivia.

The Andes can be divided into three main sections: the Southern Andes in Argentina and Chile, the Central Andes in Bolivia and Peru, and the Northern Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. These mountains have many different climates and ecosystems, from rainy forests to dry high plains.

Geology

The Andes are a major mountain range along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for volcanic activity. They formed due to the movement of tectonic plates over millions of years, especially when the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate pushed together. This process, called subduction, caused the land to rise and create the high mountains we see today.

The Andes have several interesting bends, called oroclines, that change the direction of the mountain range. One notable bend occurs around 18° S, where the mountains shift from running northwest in Peru to south through Chile and Argentina. These bends are linked to the way the Earth's crust has shifted and squeezed over time. The Andes continue to change shape due to ongoing tectonic forces, which sometimes cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The mountains also hold important resources like copper, salt, and lithium, which are valuable to many countries around the world.

History

Main article: History of Andean South America

The Andes Mountains were first home to hunter-gatherers before they developed agriculture and saw the rise of advanced civilizations. The most famous of these was the Inca Empire, which ruled the region for centuries. In the 16th century, Spanish explorers arrived and took control of the Andes, changing the lives of the people living there. Later, in the 19th century, the countries in the Andes fought for and won their independence from Spanish rule, leading to the modern nations we know today.

Climate and hydrology

See also: Tropical Andes, Dry Andes, and Wet Andes

The Andes have many different climates depending on where you are and how high up you go. The air gets colder and thinner as you climb higher. In the south, it is rainy and cool, while in the middle, it is dry. The north is usually warm and rainy, with an average temperature of 18 °C (64 °F) in Colombia. The weather can change a lot over just a short distance — rainforests can be found just a few kilometers from snowy mountain peaks like Cotopaxi.

The Andes affect the weather of nearby areas. The height where snow can be found changes depending on where you are. In some places, snow starts at about 4,500 meters, but in others, it can be as low as 300 meters in Tierra del Fuego. In parts of Chile and Argentina, there are two main climate zones: the Dry Andes and the Wet Andes. The Dry Andes, near the Atacama Desert, gets less rain and has big temperature changes.

Flora

The Andes Mountains have a wide variety of plants because they stretch from warm, rainy areas near the Caribbean to cold, dry places near Cape Horn. There are rainforests and dry forests in the northern Andes, but many of these areas have shrunk, especially in Colombia. On the opposite side, the western slopes of Peru, Chile, and Argentina are drier and covered with woodlands and shrubs.

The Andes are home to about 30,000 different types of plants, and half of them are found only there. Important plants from the Andes include Cinchona pubescens, which helps treat malaria, as well as crops like tobacco and potatoes. High-altitude forests made of Polylepis trees grow in several countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. These trees, sometimes called Queñua, grow as high as 4,500 metres above sea level, but many of these forests are now in danger because people have been cutting them down.

Fauna

Main article: Fauna of the Andes

The Andes mountains are home to a amazing variety of animals. There are almost 1,000 different kinds of frogs and toads, with many found only in this region. You can also find around 600 types of mammals, more than 1,700 birds, over 600 reptiles, and nearly 400 fish species.

Some special animals in the Andes include the vicuña and guanaco, along with their domesticated relatives the llama and alpaca. Chinchillas live in the higher areas, and the huge Andean condor flies through the mountains. Other interesting animals are the huemul, cougar, and various types of foxes. Birds like the Andean goose, giant coot, and flamingos also make their home in the Andes.

Human activity

See also: Cultural periods of Peru, Inca Empire, and Viceroyalty of Peru

The Andes Mountains have been a center of cultural influence for thousands of years. In the 15th century, the Inca civilization and Empire grew in the central Andes. The Incas built impressive structures like aqueducts and roads, many of which are still standing today.

In modern times, some of the largest cities in the Andes include Bogotá, Santiago, Medellín, Cali, and Quito. Lima is a major coastal city near the Andes. La Paz in Bolivia is notable for being the world’s highest capital city, sitting at about 3,650 meters above sea level.

The Andes have also been important for farming, with ancient techniques like irrigation and terracing still used today. Crops such as potatoes, maize, and quinoa are important to the region. The Andes are rich in minerals, and mining has been a key industry since the time of the Spanish conquest, with countries like Chile and Peru leading in copper production.

Peaks

Main article: List of mountains in the Andes

The Andes mountain range has many tall peaks. The highest is Aconcagua in Argentina, which stands at 6,961 meters. Other tall mountains include Huascarán in Peru and Chimborazo in Ecuador.

Argentina

See also: List of mountains in Argentina

• Aconcagua, 6,961 m (22,838 ft)
• Cerro Bonete, 6,759 m (22,175 ft)
• Galán, 5,912 m (19,396 ft)
• Mercedario, 6,720 m (22,047 ft)
• Pissis, 6,795 m (22,293 ft)

The border between Argentina and Chile

See also: Argentina–Chile border

• Cerro Bayo, 5,401 m (17,720 ft)
• Cerro Fitz Roy, 3,375 m (11,073 ft) or 3,405 m, Patagonia, also known as Cerro Chaltén
• Cerro Escorial, 5,447 m (17,871 ft)
• Cordón del Azufre, 5,463 m (17,923 ft)
• Falso Azufre, 5,890 m (19,324 ft)
• Incahuasi, 6,620 m (21,719 ft)
• Lastarria, 5,697 m (18,691 ft)
• Llullaillaco, 6,739 m (22,110 ft)
• Maipo, 5,264 m (17,270 ft)
• Marmolejo, 6,110 m (20,046 ft)
• Ojos del Salado, 6,893 m (22,615 ft)
• Olca, 5,407 m (17,740 ft)
• Sierra Nevada de Lagunas Bravas, 6,127 m (20,102 ft)
• Socompa, 6,051 m (19,852 ft)
• Nevado Tres Cruces, 6,749 m (22,142 ft) (south summit) (III Region)
• Tronador, 3,491 m (11,453 ft)
• Tupungato, 6,570 m (21,555 ft)
• Nacimiento, 6,492 m (21,299 ft)

Bolivia

• Janq'u Uma, 6,427 m (21,086 ft)
• Cabaraya, 5,860 m (19,226 ft)
• Cerro Cañapa, 5,882 m (19,298 ft)
• Cerro Lípez, 5,929 m (19,452 ft)
• Cerro Nelly, 5,676 m (18,622 ft)
• Chacaltaya, 5,422 m (17,789 ft)
• Chachacomani, 6,074 m (19,928 ft)
• Chaupi Orco, 6,044 m (19,829 ft)
• Chearoco, 6,127 m (20,102 ft)
• Huayna Potosí, 6,088 m (19,974 ft)
• Illampu, 6,368 m (20,892 ft)
• Illimani, 6,438 m (21,122 ft)
• Kunturiri, 5,648 m (18,530 ft)
• Layqa Qullu, 6,166 m (20,230 ft)
• Laram Q'awa, 5,182 m (17,001 ft)
• Macizo de Pacuni, 5,400 m (17,720 ft)
• Mururata, 5,871 m (19,260 ft)
• Nevado Anallajsi, 5,750 m (18,865 ft)
• Nevado Charquini, 5,392 m (17,690 ft)
• Nevado Sajama, 6,542 m (21,463 ft)
• Patilla Pata, 5,300 m (17,390 ft)
• Pico del Norte, 6,070 m (19,910 ft)
• Tata Sabaya, 5,430 m (17,815 ft)
• Tunari, 5,035 m (16,519 ft)
• Uturuncu, 6,008 m (19,711 ft)
• Wayna Potosí, 4,969 m (16,302 ft)

The border between Bolivia and Chile

• Acotango, 6,052 m (19,856 ft)
• Aucanquilcha, 6,176 m (20,262 ft)
• Michincha, 5,305 m (17,405 ft)
• Iru Phutunqu, 5,163 m (16,939 ft)
• Licancabur, 5,920 m (19,423 ft)
• Olca, 5,407 m (17,740 ft)
• Parinacota, 6,348 m (20,827 ft)
• Paruma, 5,420 m (17,782 ft)
• Pomerape, 6,282 m (20,610 ft)

Chile

Main article: List of mountains in Chile

• Monte San Valentin, 4,058 m (13,314 ft)
• Cerro Paine Grande, 2,884 m (9,462 ft)
• Cerro Macá, c.2,300 m (7,546 ft)
• Monte Darwin, c.2,500 m (8,202 ft)
• Volcan Hudson, c.1,900 m (6,234 ft)
• Cerro Castillo Dynevor, c.1,100 m (3,609 ft)
• Mount Tarn, c.825 m (2,707 ft)
• Polleras, c.5,993 m (19,662 ft)
• Acamarachi, c.6,046 m (19,836 ft)

Colombia

• Nevado del Huila, 5,365 m (17,602 ft)
• Nevado del Ruiz, 5,321 m (17,457 ft)
• Nevado del Tolima, 5,205 m (17,077 ft)
• Pico Pan de Azúcar, 5,200 m (17,060 ft)
• Ritacuba Negro, 5,320 m (17,454 ft)
• Nevado del Cumbal, 4,764 m (15,630 ft)
• Cerro Negro de Mayasquer, 4,445 m (14,583 ft)
• Ritacuba Blanco, 5,410 m (17,749 ft)
• Nevado del Quindío, 5,215 m (17,110 ft)
• Puracé, 4,655 m (15,272 ft)
• Santa Isabel, 4,955 m (16,257 ft)
• Doña Juana, 4,150 m (13,615 ft)
• Galeras, 4,276 m (14,029 ft)
• Azufral, 4,070 m (13,353 ft)

Ecuador

• Antisana, 5,752 m (18,871 ft)
• Cayambe, 5,790 m (18,996 ft)
• Chiles, 4,723 m (15,495 ft)
• Chimborazo, 6,268 m (20,564 ft)
• Corazón, 4,790 m (15,715 ft)
• Cotopaxi, 5,897 m (19,347 ft)
• El Altar, 5,320 m (17,454 ft)
• Illiniza, 5,248 m (17,218 ft)
• Pichincha, 4,784 m (15,696 ft)
• Quilotoa, 3,914 m (12,841 ft)
• Reventador, 3,562 m (11,686 ft)
• Sangay, 5,230 m (17,159 ft)
• Tungurahua, 5,023 m (16,480 ft)

Peru

• Alpamayo, 5,947 m (19,511 ft)
• Artesonraju, 6,025 m (19,767 ft)
• Carnicero, 5,960 m (19,554 ft)
• Chumpe, 6,106 m (20,033 ft)
• Coropuna, 6,377 m (20,922 ft)
• El Misti, 5,822 m (19,101 ft)
• El Toro, 5,830 m (19,127 ft)
• Huandoy, 6,395 m (20,981 ft)
• Huascarán, 6,768 m (22,205 ft)
• Jirishanca, 6,094 m (19,993 ft)
• Pumasillo, 5,991 m (19,656 ft)
• Rasac, 6,040 m (19,816 ft)
• Rondoy, 5,870 m (19,259 ft)
• Sarapo, 6,127 m (20,102 ft)
• Salcantay, 6,271 m (20,574 ft)
• Seria Norte, 5,860 m (19,226 ft)
• Siula Grande, 6,344 m (20,814 ft)
• Huaytapallana, 5,557 m (18,232 ft)
• Yerupaja, 6,635 m (21,768 ft)
• Yerupaja Chico, 6,089 m (19,977 ft)

Venezuela

• Pico Bolívar, 4,978 m (16,332 ft)

• Pico Humboldt, 4,940 m (16,207 ft)

• Pico Bonpland, 4,880 m (16,010 ft)

• Pico La Concha, 4,920 m (16,142 ft)

• Pico Piedras Blancas, 4,740 m (15,551 ft)

• Pico El Águila, 4,180 m (13,714 ft)

• Pico El Toro 4,729 m (15,515 ft)

• Pico El León 4,740 m (15,551 ft)

• Pico Mucuñuque 4,609 m (15,121 ft)

• .jpg)

  Aconcagua, Argentina, the highest mountain in the Americas

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  Fitz Roy in the Patagonia region between Argentina and Chile

Sajama, Bolivia

[Parinacota](/wiki/Parinacota_Volcano), Bolivia/Chile

View of [Cuernos del Paine](/wiki/Cuernos_del_Paine) in [Torres del Paine National Park](/wiki/Torres_del_Paine_National_Park), Chile

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  Nevado del Huila, Colombia

[Chimborazo](/wiki/Chimborazo_\(volcano\)) near [Riobamba](/wiki/Riobamba), Ecuador

[Huandoy](/wiki/Huandoy), Peru

[Pico Humboldt](/wiki/Pico_Humboldt), Venezuela