The Southern Cordilleras (Andes) are mountains that pass through a number of states: Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. Tourists specifically visit these countries to get acquainted with the beautiful landscapes, flora and fauna, the ancient history of Indian civilizations. And also to conquer the top, rising 3-6 thousand meters above the ground.
General information about the Andes Mountains
The landscapes of the Cordilleras are geysers, high mountain lakes, dense forests and salt marshes, volcanoes and peaks covered with snow. For the mountains, the borders between countries are a convention; they originated at the time of the formation of the continent.
How and when the Andes formed
The age of the mountains could not be determined precisely. Most scientists are inclined to believe that their history begins in the Jurassic period. They were formed as a result of the collision of lithospheric plates.
During an ancient volcanic eruption, smaller volcanoes, Mescalera and Angayuchan, descended on the largest of them, the South American, which has been given the name of Farallon. The geological process led to the rise of mountain ranges. Active seismic activity continues to this day as scientists notice the movement of tectonic plates continuing to sink.
The Cordilleras continue to grow, new faults and caves form, and ridges rise.
The origin of the name of the mountains
There are several versions of the origin of the name. The Italian historian Giovanni Anello Oliva believed that the Spanish conquistadors gave the geographical names. The name of the Eastern Range comes from the Quechuan “anti” – Andes o cordilleras, and the Western Range comes from “sierra”, sierra.
According to another version – in translation from the language of the Andes Indians – “copper”. There are a lot of copper ore deposits in this area.
Where are the Andes on the world map
The geographic location of the Cordilleras is in the west of South America. Coordinates: 65°N to 56°S. The mountains are the natural inter-oceanic divide and climate barrier of the mainland. They shelter it from the cold ocean winds.
Length and height of mountains
The topography of the system is heterogeneous. There are places where the ridge stretches to a width of 700 km, and the tops rise to 6 thousand meters above sea level, and low rocks about 1500-3000 m. The length of the mountain range is estimated at 8000-9000 km, the average width and height – 250 and 4 km, respectively.
The highest peak of the Andes
Aconcagua – 6962 m, is located in Argentina, in the province of Mendoza.
Not much inferior to the steepest peak:
| Title | Height, m |
| Ojos del Salado | 6900 |
| Monte Piccis | 6795 |
| Bone Chico | 6759 |
| Tres Cruces | 6749 |
| Huascaran Sur | 6745 |
Plant and animal life in the Andes
The vegetation and fauna depend on the climatic belt through which the mountain system passes:
- At the foot of it are evergreen palms, ficuses, banana trees;
- above 3000 m – thickets of bamboo and ferns;
- after 3500 – heather and dwarf plants;
- even higher are mosses and lichens.
In the east of the mountains, precipitation is higher, allowing steppe vegetation to develop.
In the Middle Cordilleras, people have destroyed large tracts of forest. Now there are small groves, artificial plantings, alpine meadows. In the resulting peat bogs you can find plants characteristic of the area – reeds, sedges, etc.
Interesting vegetation in the Patagonian Cordilleras. Subarctic and tundra species are adjacent to subtropical trees here. Beeches, magnolias, conifers, pinecones, and dwarf trees can be found.
The fauna is peculiar – there are many endemic animal species: cloven-tailed monkeys, pudu and gaemal deer, relict spectacled bear, opossums, anteaters.
Climate and weather
It is customary to divide the mountain system into three zones, with different weather conditions. Because ocean winds blow on one side, precipitation is unevenly distributed. In addition, the temperature values also change as you ascend – the higher, the colder it is.
| Parts of the Andes | Climate description |
| North | Subequatorial. May through November is the rainy season, with little seasonal variation in temperature |
| Central | Desert, with variations from +15 to 24°C. It’s cold at night and hot during the day. |
| South | Subtropical, but sometimes it snows. On the western slopes there is more precipitation, the climate is oceanic, and humidity is high. |
Geological Structure and Mineral Resources of the Andes Mountains
The Cordillera system is folded, with a typical marginal continental volcano-plutonic belt with zonation – longitudinal and transverse. Natural resources are represented by: oil and natural gas, sodium nitrate, lignite, and ores of various metals, important for industry, and precious metals. They develop deposits of valuable minerals, including emeralds.
The Inca Empire developed thanks to natural resources – copper ore was already being mined at that time.
Rivers and lakes in the Andes zone
It is almost impossible to list all the water bodies in the mountain system. The largest rivers are the Amazon, Urubamba, Madre de Dios, Rimac, Magdalena; the lakes are Titicaca, Popo, Guanaico, Navarino, Lago Juanaco, and Lago Vilcafocha.
Ecology in the Andes
The mountain air, dense forests, and fertile soils at the foot of the mountain system have suffered because of human activity. South American countries have environmental problems to contend with:
- desertification and swamping of land due to deforestation;
- pollution of the atmosphere, natural water bodies and groundwater;
- by the deposition of heavy metals;
- soil degradation, most pronounced in coastal zones and foothills.
Rare species of animals and plants are threatened with extinction, many of them are included in the Red Book.
Classification of the Andes
The mountain system is divided into several areas. They differ in topography, landscape and climate features, diversity of flora and fauna.
Caribbean Andes
An area of high seismicity and a humid tropical climate. It is located in Venezuela, near the Caribbean Sea. The length of the mountain range is 800 km. The highest peak, Cordillera de la Costa, rises only 2,765 meters above sea level. There is still seismic activity, but no active volcanoes. The formation of the relief continues, faults arise, and river channels change.
The main minerals are oil and natural gas.
Northern Andes
This area includes the mountains of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. The ridge is up to 450 m wide. The highest point is Chomborazo volcano, 6,267 m, not much smaller than Cotopahi, 5,897 m, and Uila, 5,750 m. The high peaks are covered by glaciers. The foothills are hardly habitable – the climate there is too harsh: exhausting heat, high humidity, swampy soils and peat bogs.
Central Andes
The highest and widest place of the mountain system of frozen volcanoes lies between Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. In the southern part there is a plateau, surrounded by the ridges of the Western and Eastern Cordilleras. Desert and semi-desert landscapes predominate in the foothills. Minerals: metal ores, natural saltpeter.
Southern Patagonian Andes
The topography resembles that of Scandinavia. The mountains are lowered and the coastal cliffs form fjords, numerous bays, reefs, and rocky islands. You can meet moraine ridges, glacial lakes.
The climate of southern Chile is unfavorable, too humid. But the main precipitation falls on the western slopes, and there is much less on the eastern slopes. At high altitudes, frosts reach -30°C.
Subantarctic forests with evergreen trees, lichens, and mosses cover the slopes. Soils are brown earth and podzol.
Chile-Argentina Andes
This part of the Cordilleras has the highest peaks, including Aconcagua, and pronounced seismic activity. In the coastal part, the climate is subtropical; in Chile, closer to Santiago, it is continental and dry.
There are brown soils in the subtropical areas and black soils in the Central Valley. At the foot are alpine meadows and tropical marshes, above – mostly artificial plantations. Because of agricultural activity, the slopes are bare.
Tierra del Fuego
This archipelago, often called the End of the Earth, is the end of the Patagonian Plateau of the Southern Cordilleras. The climate is humid, except in the east, it rains 300 days a year. Summer temperatures are closer to the tundra, winter temperatures are closer to the subtropics. The vegetation is a mixture of evergreen and deciduous tree species. Tundra Animals. Almost the entire territory of Tierra del Fuego is occupied by the National Park, the main attraction of the natural area.
Attractions and unique places in the Andes
Tourists are attracted by the ancient mountains, the opportunity to learn about the Inca culture, pristine nature and mountain air. Many people come to see the sights.
The highest active volcano in Ojos del Salado
The place attracts mountaineers eager to conquer the snow-covered peak, which rises 6,400 meters above the plain. The surrounding scenery is majestic, but vegetation is sparse and the climate is desert-like: rarefied air, large differences between day and night temperatures.
The literal translation of the name from Spanish is salty eyes (springs). But seismic activity is weak, although the last sulphur release occurred not so long ago – at the end of the 20th century in 1993.
The Atacama Desert is the driest place on the planet
The area of the driest terrain in the world is more than 105,000 km². It rains here once every 20-40 years. In some places there is no possibility for life – rarefied air, high solar radiation. Not even the insects and lizards that live in deserts are found there.
However, people live here – scientists exploring the unique natural conditions, and closer to the coast – fishermen and gardeners, growing products thanks to drip irrigation. They mine in the desert:
- sodium nitrate;
- saltpeter;
- iodine;
- copper.
Tourists are attracted by the Moon Valley and the Salt Cordillera, where they come at night to admire the “alien” scenery.
Lake Titicaca
The world’s highest mountain reservoir is between Peru and Bolivia. The Spaniards named the lake after two words from the Quechua language: titi for puma and caca for rock, i.e. – mountain cougar.
There are many Indian legends associated with Lake Titicaca. If they are to be believed, this is where the night and day luminaries originated.
The reservoir consists of two pools. The depth of the larger one – from 125 to 400 m, the smaller one – from 9 to 40 m. The area of the lake is 8372 m². Fresh water comes from a multitude of rivers – over 300 of them, with their sources in glaciers. And only one originates in Titicaca, Desuguadero. Now the water level decreases every year.
The most interesting island of the lake, which attracts tourists – Isla del Sol. It contains many ancient relics: stone labyrinths, Chinkana tombs, and the Sacred Stone of Inca chiefs.
Machu Picchu
Tourists come here to get acquainted with the culture of the ancient Incas, to see the city, divided into three districts:
- sacred – with many ruins of temple structures;
- popular – judging by the architecture, poor people lived here;
- the place of residence of wealthy people.
Scientists and archaeologists still cannot understand how the structures of Machu Picchu were erected. No bonding compound was found between the individual stones, but they are so tightly fitted together that it is impossible to slip a razor blade through.
El Tatio High Mountain Geyser Plateau
Majestic landscapes, clean air and thermal springs are located in the north of Chile at an altitude of 4.32 thousand meters. The size of the area with many mud volcanoes, pools, hot springs is 30 km². Fountains at some geysers rise up to 8 km in the air.
There are several versions explaining why the plateau has such a name. According to one of them, it is a literal translation of a phrase from the Quechua language of Indians – “the weeping old man. According to another, the Incas believed that the souls of their ancestors were grieving here.
Felix Aguilar Astronomical Observatory
This place is visited by organized tours. Tourists are introduced to the mysteries of astronomy, they can admire the starry sky through the eyepiece of a telescope.
Lanin National Park in Argentina
Visitors to the Patagonia Reserve can be divided into two groups. The former enjoy the natural scenery and tranquil lakes, a rarity for mountain reservoirs. The second rise to a height of 3.7 thousand meters to the volcano, by the name of which the attraction got its name. The route takes two days.
Self-inspection is not recommended – 1/3 of the area is privately owned.
Rainbow Mountain
It is located in Peru near the city of Cusco at a distance of 170 km. The slope of the cliff is painted in many colors – you can find the whole rainbow spectrum, but with the predominance of red. You can take “cool” pictures.
Tupungato Volcano
The last time seismic activity was noted here in 1986, but it was recorded only by scientists – the slopes were not covered with ash.
Mountain climbers flock to the mountain, which is located between Argentina and Chile in the Central Cordilleras every year. The best seasons for climbing at 6,000 meters are winter and spring. At this time the weather conditions are favorable, there are no gusty winds.
Lauca National Park in northern Chile
The area of the protected zone is 1,390,000 m². Here you can see the endemics – rare representatives of flora and fauna, admire the volcanoes, descend into the uncreated caves.
Visitors are allowed to try their hand at rafting and kayaking down numerous steep mountain rivers.
Sahama National Park in Bolivia
This reserve is more than just flora and fauna. On its territory are: a layered volcano 6.7 thousand meters high, thermal springs and pools, geysers, ruins left from the buildings of ancient civilizations, and burial places, petroglyphs of ancient people.
Other interesting sights in the Andes
To see all the interesting sites and places in the Cordilleras, a few years would not be enough:
- On the outskirts of Salta are the colored mountains of Quebrada de Humahuaca.
- Colorado Lagoon in the heart of the mountains.
- The old Potosi mine, where silver is mined.
- Likankabur Volcano.
- The largest salt marsh in the world, the Uyuni.
In Chile, in the foothills, you can visit vineyards and wineries, in Peru – Huascaran National Park, the glacier Perio-Moreno in Argentina.
This is just a short list of the attractions of the Andes – each country where they take place, its own interesting places, attracting tourists.
Interesting facts about the longest mountains on the planet
When planning an itinerary to explore the foothills and peaks, national parks, and majestic landscapes, you should bring several sets of clothes. If you don’t stop anywhere, you can go through five climate zones.
There are many more interesting things to tell about the Andes:
- Slopes above 4.5 thousand meters, always covered by glaciers, the snow there never melts.
- Bolivia, a country with mountains running through it, can be proud – its capital, La Paz, is the highest in the world. It is above 3.7 thousand meters above sea level.
- Coffee lovers should know that 25% of the beans are harvested from plantations in the foothills of the Andes.
People all over the world should be grateful to the Cordillera Indians. Thanks to them, everyone learned the taste of potatoes and tomatoes and also learned how to smoke tobacco. Before that, we chewed tobacco.
