Andes

The Andes are the longest mountain range in the world, stretching along the western edge of South America. They run for about 8,900 kilometres (5,500 mi) through seven countries: Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. With an average height of 4,000 metres (13,000 ft), these towering peaks include some of the highest mountains outside of Asia.

One of the most famous peaks is Aconcagua in Argentina, rising to nearly 7,000 metres (22,838 ft). The Andes also hold the world's highest volcanoes, such as Ojos del Salado, and contain plateaus like the Altiplano Plateau, which is the second highest in the world. These mountains shape the climate and lives of millions of people who live in their shadow.

Etymology

The word Andes might come from the Quechua language, where anti means "east". This relates to Antisuyu, one of the four regions of the Inca Empire. Some people think it could also come from the Aymara language, where anta means "copper".

The word cordillera is a Spanish term meaning "rope". It is used to describe parts of the Andes and the whole mountain chain 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, with its width varying from 200 km (120 mi) to 700 km (430 mi). The Andes include high peaks like Aconcagua in Argentina, Huascarán in Peru, and Illimani in Bolivia.

The range 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. The Andes have many different climates and environments, from rainy forests to dry high plains.

Geology

The Andes are a long chain of mountains along the edge of the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area with lots of volcanic activity. They formed because of movements in the Earth’s crust, called tectonic plate processes. These movements happened mainly during the Mesozoic and Tertiary eras. The Nazca Plate and the South American Plate pushed together, causing the land to rise and form mountains.

The Andes have bends or turns called oroclines. One big bend is the Bolivian Orocline, where the mountains change direction near Bolivia. These turns help shape the wide and tall landscape of the Andes. The mountains continue to change because of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, showing how active the Earth can be.

Main article: Andean orogeny

Main article: Andean Volcanic Belt

History

Main article: History of Andean South America

The Andes Mountains were first home to people who hunted and gathered food. Over time, these people began to farm and build large communities. One of the most famous of these was the Inca Empire, which ruled the Andes for many years.

In the 1500s, Spanish explorers arrived and took control of the region. Later, in the 1800s, the countries in the Andes fought for and won their independence from Spanish rule. Today, these mountains are home to several countries that were once part of the Spanish empire.

Climate and hydrology

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

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

The mountains affect the temperatures of nearby areas. The height where snow can be found changes depending on where you are. In some places, snow starts as low as 4,500 meters, while in others it can be much higher. In parts of Chile and Argentina, there are two main climate zones: the Dry Andes and the Wet Andes. In the Dry Andes, rain is scarce and temperatures can change a lot. Some special icy formations called rock glaciers are more common here than regular glaciers.

Flora

The Andes Mountains have many different kinds of plants because they stretch from warm, rainy areas to very dry and cold places. Once, thick forests grew around the northern Andes, but today many of these forests are gone, especially in some parts of Colombia.

The Andes are home to about 30,000 types of plants, and many of these grow only here. One important plant is the small tree called Cinchona pubescens, which helps treat a sickness called malaria. Other valuable plants from the Andes include tobacco and potatoes. High up in the mountains, special forests of Polylepis trees grow in several countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. These trees, known locally by different names, grow as high as 4,500 metres above sea level. Sadly, many of these forests are in danger because people have been cutting them down.

Fauna

Main article: Fauna of the Andes

The Andes mountains are home to a wonderful variety of animals. There are almost 1,000 different types of animals, and about two-thirds of them are found only in this region. You can find many kinds of mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish here.

Some special animals in the Andes include the vicuña and guanaco, along with their domesticated relatives, the llama and alpaca. Chinchillas, which are small and cute rodents, also live in the higher parts of the Andes. The Andean condor, one of the largest birds in the Western Hemisphere, can be seen flying through these mountains. Other interesting animals include the huemul, cougar, and various types of foxes. In the lakes, such as Lake Titicaca, you might find unique birds and frogs that live nowhere else in the world. The forests of the Andes, especially in areas like Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, are full of beautiful birds, including hummingbirds and quetzals.

Human activity

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

The Andes Mountains have been important for cultures and civilizations for thousands of years. In the 1400s, the Inca people built a large empire in the central Andes. They created roads, aqueducts, and other structures that some people still use today.

In modern times, many big cities have grown in and near the Andes. Some of the largest include Bogotá, Santiago, Medellín, Cali, Quito, and Lima. La Paz in Bolivia is one of the highest capital cities in the world, sitting very high up in the mountains.

The Andes have also been important for farming for thousands of years. Ancient farmers used special methods to grow crops on steep slopes. Today, people still grow crops like potatoes, maize, tobacco, cotton, quinoa, and coffee in the Andes. The mountains also have valuable minerals, and mining has been important for many years.

Peaks

Main article: List of mountains in the Andes

The Andes Mountains have many tall peaks, with the highest being Aconcagua in Argentina. These mountains span across several countries, each with its own notable peaks.

See also: List of mountains in Argentina

See also: Argentina–Chile border

Main article: List of mountains in Chile