Andes mountain where is it

Over its length, the Andean range is split into several ranges, often two great ranges, named Cordillera Oriental and the Cordillera Occidental, often separated by an intermediate depression. The average elevation in the Andes is about 13, feet 3, meters.

The only mountains that are taller than the Andes are the Himalaya Mountains and their adjacent ranges, including the Hindu Kush. The highest elevation in the Andes is Mount Aconcagua in Argentina , which is 22, feet 6, m above sea level. Because the Andes act as a large wall between the Pacific Ocean and the continent, they have a tremendous impact on climate in the region. The northern part of the Andes is typically rainy and warm, and the weather is also wet in the eastern part of central Andes, and the area to the southwest.

To the west, the dry climate is dominated by the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. The mountains form a rain cover over the eastern plains of Argentina , which have extremely dry weather. The Andes Mountains are over 50 million years old, they were created when the South American and Pacific tectonic plates collided. It is a collection of numerous mountain chains which join together in what are called orographic knots.

The formation of the modern Andes began with the events of the Triassic and Jurassic when Pangea begun to break up and several rifts developed. It was during the Cretaceous period that the Andes began to take their present form, by the uplifting, faulting and folding of sedimentary and metamorphic rock of the ancient cratons to the east.

The rise of the Andes has not been constant and different regions have had different degrees of tectonic stress, uplift, and weathering. The ranges are home to an astronomical array of wildlife, including just under different species of mammals, an equal number of reptile species, species of fish, over 1, types of birds, more than 1, amphibians and way over 30, species of endemic plants.

The mountains act as a wall which blocks frigid Pacific winds, and this has created the arid landscapes of the western side of the Andes like the Atacama Desert and the tropical lusciousness of the eastern slopes, like in the Amazon rainforest. The Amazon River originates in the Andes Mountains. Latest estimates project that yet-to-be discovered copper deposits in the Andes could total a gobsmacking million metric tonnes, along with 13, tonnes of gold, , tonnes of silver and 20 million tonnes of molybdenum, which is a mineral used to harden steel.

Mt Chimborazo, one of the most coveted mountaineering destinations in South America. For lovers of high-altitude adventures, there really is no more promising playground. From climbing to hiking, white water rafting, cycling, horseriding, skiing, stargazing and so much more: these are just some of the phenomenal ways you can squeeze the most out of your Andes Mountain adventure.

Ready to hit the Andes? Hold it! Before you pack your bags, check out our guide to the best thing about the Andes and discover all the exciting destinations you can visit, and all the amazing things you can see and do once you get there. The Andes Mountains have an average height of 4,m and a maximum width of to km, and are considered as the highest mountain range that is situated outside the continent of Asia.

This long mountain range extends from the north to south direction straddling the seven South American nations of Argentina , Bolivia , Colombia , Chile , Ecuador , Peru , and Venezuela. The Andes Mountains also form a part of the American Cordillera , which is a continuous series of mountain ranges that stretches across a major part of North , Central and South Americas.

Throughout their length, the Andes Mountains are divided into many ranges by intervening depressions. Situated along the boundary between Argentina and Chile, and forming a part of the Principal Cordillera of the Southern Andes Mountains is, Mount Aconcagua - which rises to an elevation of 6,m and is considered as the tallest mountain in both the Western and Southern hemispheres. It is believed that the Andes Mountain system formed due to the movement of tectonic plates that began during the Mesozoic Era and the Tertiary Period.

Geological studies have revealed that the convergence of the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate started the mountain-building activity that eventually led to the formation of the Andes Mountain Range.

The Andes is bounded by many sedimentary basins including the Amazon Basin, Orinoco Basin, etc in the east; the Patagonia Terrane in the south, and the Pacific Ocean in the west. The mountain range spans seven countries — Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina — and can be found between 10 degrees north and 57 degrees south latitudes and 70 degrees to 80 degrees west longitude. It is up to miles km wide.

The only mountains that are taller than the Andes are the Himalaya Mountains and their adjacent ranges, including the Hindu Kush. The average elevation in the Andes is about 13, feet 3, meters.

The highest elevation in the Andes is Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, which is 22, feet 6, m above sea level. The Andes are dotted with a number of depressions that separate the length of the range into several segments. Because the Andes act as a large wall between the Pacific Ocean and the continent, they have a tremendous impact on climate in the region.