Southern Andes. Climbing Aconcagua. Different areas of the Andes

one of the highest mountain systems of the Earth, which is located in the northwest of South America, with a very large number of active volcanoes that make up the Andean volcanic belt, with frequent earthquakes, large glaciers, rich in natural resources in the form of gas, oil, non-ferrous metals

Definition of the Andes, Andean geography, northern Andes, central Andes, southern Andes, peaks of the Andes, Andean population, Andean parks, Andean climate, Andean vegetation and soils, Andean wildlife, Andean ecology, Andean industry, Andean mining, Andean agriculture , interesting in the Andes

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Andes is, definition

Andes is the longest mountain, as well as one of the highest mountain systems in the world, from the system of which the rivers of the basin flow to the east Atlantic Ocean, and the rivers of the basin flow to the west Pacific Ocean, these are mountains where formations have not yet ended and continue, therefore it is possible to meet many active volcanoes here, and also here are frequent, the Andes mountain system runs through the territory of 7 countries of America (South), it should be noted that in the Andes they sound like "Copper mountains".

Andes is mountains that serve as the most important climatic barrier, isolating the territory to the west of the Cordillera Main from the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, to the east - from the influence of the Pacific Ocean.

Andes is mountains that lie in 5 climatic zones(equatorial, subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate) and are distinguished (especially in the central part) by sharp contrasts in moistening of the eastern (leeward) and western (windward) slopes.

Andes is revived mountains erected by the latest uplifts on the site of the so-called Andean (Cordillera) folded geosynclinal belt; The Andes are one of the largest Alpine folding systems on the planet (on the Paleozoic and partly Baikal folded basement).

Andes is the longest mountain range in the world, it is still growing.

Andes what it is the longest and one of the highest mountain systems of the Earth.

Andes, what is it - is it burn, where the plates of the earth's crust collide, volcanoes act, mountains rise.

Andes where it is along South America giant chain, there are many rocky peaks and fire-breathing mountains.

Geography of the Andes

Andes - revived mountains erected by the latest uplifts on the site of the so-called Andean (Cordillera) folded geosynclinal belt; The Andes are one of the largest Alpine folding systems on the planet (on the Paleozoic and partly Baikal folded basement). The formation of the Andes dates back to the Jurassic.

The Andean mountain system is characterized by triacetrogs formed into triacetrogs, subsequently filled with layers of sedimentary and volcanic rocks of considerable thickness. Large massifs of the Main Cordillera and the coast, the Coastal Cordillera are Cretaceous granitoid intrusions.

Intermountain and marginal troughs (Altiplano, Maracaibo, etc.) formed in the Paleogene and Neogene times. Tectonic movements, accompanied by seismic and volcanic activity, continue in our time. This is due to the fact that a subduction zone runs along the Pacific coast of South America: the Nazca and Antarctic plates go under the South American one, which contributes to mountain building processes.

Extreme South part South America Tierra del Fuego, separated by a transform fault from the small Scotia Plate. Beyond the Drake Passage, the Andes continue with the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula.

The Andes are rich in ores mainly (vanadium, tungsten, bismuth, molybdenum, arsenic, antimony, etc.); the deposits are confined mainly to the Paleozoic structures of the eastern Andes and the vents of ancient volcanoes; in Chile - large copper deposits. In the advanced and foothill troughs there is oil and gas (in the foothills of the Andes within Argentina), in the weathering crusts - bauxites.

The volcano was conquered in 1937 by Polish climbers Justin Wojznis and Jan Szczepanski. On the way to the summit, which only experienced climbers can reach, the researchers found traces of Inca sacrificial altars.

Apparently, the Ojos del Salado volcano was revered by the Indians as sacred mountain. On April 21, 2007, the Chilean athlete Gonzalo Bravo managed to climb the slope of Ojos del Salado to a height of 6,688 meters on a modified Suzuki Samurai (Suzuki SJ), thus setting a world climb record for.

Climbing the world's highest volcano Ojos del Salado

The summit of Monte Pissis (height 6793 m)

Monte Pissis is an extinct volcano in the province of La Rioja, Argentina, located about 550 km north of Aconcagua. Due to its location in the Atacama Desert, snow is only available at its peak during the winter. It was named after Pedro José Amadeo Piz in 1885, a French geologist who worked for the Chilean government. The first ascent to the top of the mountain was made by Polish climbers Stefan Osiecki and Jan Szczepanski on February 7, 1937.

Monte Pissis

Mount Huascaran (height 6768 m)

Huascarán is a mountain in the Andes with a height of 6768 m, the highest point in the Republic of Peru and the fourth highest mountain in South America. Huascaran is located in the eponymous national park and is part of the Cordillera Blanca massif.

In addition to the main peak of Huascaran Sur, the mountain has two more - Chopicalki and Huascaran Norte. The first ascent was made in 1932 by a group of German and Austrian climbers. Annie Smith-Peck was the first American to climb Huascaran Norte in 1908. Mount Huascaran is known for catastrophic events.

On December 13, 1941, the outburst of Lake Palcochocha caused a mudflow that destroyed the city of Huaraz, killing 5,000 people. On January 10, 1962, a glacier that fell off Mount Huascaran gave rise to a mudflow with a volume of 13 million cubic meters, as a result of which 4,000 people died.

On May 31, 1970, due to an earthquake on the northern slope, a large ice collapse occurred, which caused a mudflow that buried the Czechoslovak climbing group, the city of Yungay and the surrounding valley, 20,000 people died. It turned out that on Mount Huascaran, the value of acceleration free fall is the lowest on Earth - 9.7639 m / s².

Peak of Cerro Bonete (height 6759 m)

Cerro Bonete is a mountain in the north of the province of La Rioja, Argentina, near the border with the province of Catamarca. The height of its peak is 6759 m above sea level (SRTM data (English) Russian), which makes it the fifth highest mountain in America (after Aconcagua, Ojos del Salado, Monte Pissis and Huascarana).

Cerro Bonete

Summit of Mercedario (height 6720 m)

Mercedario - highest peak of the Cordillera de la Ramada and the eighth highest mountain of the Andes. In Chile, it is known as La Liga (Spanish: La Ligua). Located 100 km north of Aconcagua, in the Argentine province. The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1934 by Adam Karpinsky and Viktor Ostrovsky, members of the Polish expedition.

Nevado Tres Cruces Volcanic Massif (heights 6749 m and 6629 m)

Nevado Tres Cruces is a volcanic massif in South America, belongs to mountain range Andes, located on the border of Argentina and Chile. Its length is from eight to twelve kilometers from north to south and consists of four main peaks. The two highest peaks are Tras Cruces Sur with a height of 6749 m and Tras Cruces Central, 6629 m. It is named after the mountain national park Nevado Tres Cruces in Chile.

Volcano Lullaillaco (height 6739 m)

Lullaillaco - active volcano in the Western Cordillera of the Peruvian Andes, on the border of Chile and Argentina. It is located in an area of ​​very high volcanoes on the high plateau of Puna de Atacama in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places in the world. It has an absolute height of 6739 m, relative - almost 2.5 km. At the top - eternal glaciation. The last explosive eruption dates back to 1877, and the volcano is currently in the solfataric stage. Llullaillaco is the highest active volcano on the planet, the second highest volcano in the world and the seventh highest peak in the Western Hemisphere. The snow line on the western slope exceeds 6.5 thousand meters (the highest position of the snow line on earth).

Mount Incahuasi (height 6621 m)

Incahuasi is a volcano in the province of Catamarca, in the northwest of Argentina. It is located in the east of the Atacama Desert. This volcano has two large peaks. The volcano has a 3.5 km wide caldera. Four pyroclastic cones are located 7 km to the northeast.

Population of the Andes

Modern population The inner plateau of the Andes consists mainly of the Quechua Indians, whose ancestors formed the basis of the Inca state. The Quechua practice irrigated agriculture, tame and breed llamas.

On the shores of Lake Titicaca, the Aymara people live, engaged in fishing and making various products from reeds growing along the low shores of the lake.

Parks in the Andes

They found traces of cultivation of peanuts, pumpkins, and other crops in the Andes. These plants do not grow wild near their location, which means they have been domesticated elsewhere. The development of agriculture testifies to the sedentary life of ancient people, their transition from primitive communal ways of obtaining food, less dependence on nature, and also the creation of the foundations for the development of inequality and the state.

Peruvian Republic

Accidents in the Andes

Accident - destruction of structures and (or) technical devices used at a hazardous production facility, uncontrolled explosion and (or) release of hazardous substances.

Passenger bus accident in the Andes

The bus went off the road and fell into the abyss, only eight people were saved. On Thursday morning, for unknown reasons, a passenger bus left the highway in the Peruvian Andes and fell into a gorge. Only eight people were rescued with serious injuries. The rest of the rescuers found already dead.

42 people killed in a terrible accident in the south of the Republic of Peru

“The bus is completely broken at the bottom of the plain, and the worst thing is that we are isolated here, there is no connection, like many cities in Peru,” RIA Novosti quotes the words of Mayor Velil, who, along with local residents, helped the victims.

Bus fell off a cliff in Peru

"Miracle in the Andes", involved in cannibalism

October 13, 1972 in the Andes crashed a plane with a junior rugby team from Montevideo. On the eleventh day, they heard that the rescuers of the three countries had stopped their search. To survive, the survivors were forced to eat their dead comrades.

What happened to the Uruguayan rugby team was later called the "miracle in the Andes." In fact, the plane with five crew members and forty passengers on board took off on October 12th. It was a charter flight that Uruguayan junior rugby players and their relatives and coaches flew from Carrasco to Santiago.

Due to bad weather conditions, the plane was forced to land at the airport in the Argentine city of Mendoza. On October 13, bad weather did not allow flying directly to Santiago, so he was taken to another Chilean city - Curico. Having passed it, the pilots received the command from the air traffic controller to descend on Santiago, but because of the cyclone, they had to do it blindly, which was the fatal mistake of the crew.

Coming out of the cyclone, the plane was right in front of the mountainside. Despite all the efforts of the pilots, it was not possible to avoid the collision. The car, striking a mountain, lost its tail and wings, and then the fuselage rushed at breakneck speed down the slope and crashed into a huge snowdrift. During the crash, out of 45 flying people, 12 people died, five more were missing.

The next day they will be found dead. A day later, another victim of a plane crash dies. Two weeks later, a snow avalanche will cover the survivors, and there will be no more eight passengers. Three will die from wounds and frostbite in the following days. Of the 45 passengers, only 16 will survive.

Chile and Argentina searched for the plane for eight days. But since the fuselage was white, it merged with the snow, making it difficult to search. On the ninth day, the search was stopped. When the first shock passed, the surviving passengers began to inspect things scattered during the disaster. So we managed to find several bottles of wine, crackers and chocolate bars. Water was obtained by melting snow in the sun. To do this, they threw it on the metal parts of a collapsed aircraft. Nobody had warm clothes. Therefore, they slept, leaning against each other.

When the meal was over, the question arose of what to do next. Given the fact that there was nowhere to wait for salvation, the living decided to eat the dead. It didn't come easy for everyone. After all, many of the dead were someone's relatives or close friends. And yet hunger forced rugby players to become cannibals.

Furthermore, one of those who survived after a while will say that if it were not for the avalanche, then everyone would have died. The snow not only sheltered the shattered fuselage from the winds, but, horribly, gave eight more bodies to the survivors. Even then it was obvious that they would have to save themselves, that is, the crossing through the Andes was inevitable. The surviving pilot claimed that the green valleys were not so far from the crash site. But winter was in full swing, so even determined rugby players were afraid to set off.

stay alive

Finally, when waiting longer was tantamount to death, the passengers of the crashed charter made up their minds. We were going to go four, but one of the athletes died from blood poisoning. Three people set off - Nando Parrado, Roberto Canessa and Antonio Vizintin. Almost immediately they came across tail section plane, where they found some food, clothes and cigarettes. Also, batteries.

On the first night, the weather deteriorated sharply, and the trio almost froze. I had to go back to the fuselage, and all together sew a sleeping bag from pieces of cloth obtained in the tail. Batteries were useless. At first they wanted to use them to transmit a distress signal, but nothing happened. Batteries gave out direct current, but an alternating current was needed.

Trapped in the Andes

And again, three brave ones set off in search of saving valleys. But on the third day, they realized that it would take a long time to go, so Parrado and Canessa sent Vizintin back to the camp, and they themselves, taking supplies of human meat from him, went further. Only on the ninth day of the journey did they meet a Chilean farmer, to whom they explained the situation. He fed them and called rescuers.

Parrado himself, as stronger, became a conductor. The next day helicopters to the crash site. The rescuers could not believe their eyes. 72 days after the disappearance of Flight 571, they saw living passengers. Unfortunately, not all of them. health care. They were treated for altitude sickness and dehydration, scurvy and malnutrition.

Married, has two children. Enjoys racing.

No one survived the plane crash in the Andes

Rescuers carefully examined the crash site of the Venezuelan ATR42 aircraft and the command issued a final report on the search operation. The conclusions drawn are very disappointing.

All 46 people on board the plane were killed. “The circumstances of the disaster do not allow us to hope that any of the passengers or crew members could survive,” said the head civil aviation Venezuelan General Ramon Vinas. Earlier it was reported that the plane crashed into a mountain and fell apart upon impact into small pieces.

The general added that a search operation continues at the crash site. Rescuers are delivered to the emergency site by helicopter, and then they have to go down the mountain terraces to the place where the airliner crashed into the mountain. Fragments of the aircraft are scattered over a large area, which also makes the operation difficult, according to FOX News.

Recall that the ATR42 twin-engine aircraft, owned by the Venezuelan airline, was flying from Merida to Caracas. Shortly after takeoff, the plane disappeared from radar screens. Later it turned out that he crashed into a mountain.

Football team plane found missing in Andes in 1961

Santiago, February 12th. In the Andes, at an altitude of more than three thousand meters, climbers discovered the wreckage of a plane that crashed in 1961, MIR 24 reports. There were eight Green Cross football teams on board, all of them died.

The crash site of the plane about three hundred kilometers south of the capital of Chile - Santiago

Three killed in helicopter crash in Andes

Three people died in a helicopter crash in the Chilean Andes, among them the former Chilean ambassador to India. The accident occurred on Saturday morning, 570 kilometers south of the Chilean capital Santiago. According to RIA Novosti with reference to Agence France-Presse, there were four people on board, one of them managed to escape by jumping from the helicopter before it crashed. He was taken to the hospital after the rescue team arrived at the crash site. The bodies of the victims were removed from the scene of the accident a few hours later.

If there are uninteresting mountains in the world, then these are definitely not the Andean Cordillera. Standard tourist routes can be on foot and horseback, one-day and long, but they all make you feel the differences between the two cultures colliding in the mountains. Small colonial cities, built by Europeans arriving on the mainland, and old forts oppose themselves to stone palaces and temples, remembering the times when there was no Amerigo and Christopher here at all.

Since the mountain range passes through seven countries, the diversity of cultures is really impressive. The distant descendants of the indigenous population of the mainland mixed in the most bizarre way with the conquering Europeans and brought slaves, and therefore the traditional beliefs of the locals are very different from the Catholicism that exists in everything else civilized world. For tourists, perhaps the most interesting will be such cities in the region as La Paz and Cusco.

Moreover, all visitors will be satisfied - the local flavor is unique, so lovers of souvenirs and national cuisine it will be a special pleasure to wander around very cheap, in the European opinion, local establishments. The only danger threatening visitors is to experience some discomfort at first due to the fact that La Paz is located at an altitude of more than 3.5 thousand km above sea level.

To all lovers active rest worth paying attention to hiking trails, running through all the places, more or less of interest to modern spoiled tourists. One of the most notable areas mountain range, where the Andes mountains pass, is also the territory modern republic Peru.

The next must-see place is Lake Titicaca, which is the highest mountainous and navigable reservoir. In order to see it, you don’t need to go far, the address is the border of Bolivia and the Peruvian Republic, the Central Highlands.

Probably, many are familiar with the Grand Canyon, which the native and non-native Americans are so proud of, but the Colca Canyon (Peru) surpasses it by an order of magnitude, having a depth of more than 4 thousand km.

Equatorial evergreen forests with an abundance of exotic plants - bamboo, myrtle and tree fern - give the impression of absolute primitiveness, and on the first walk n It does not leave the feeling of traveling to the prehistoric era, when huge lizards still roamed the earth.

Crossing the mark of 3 thousand km above sea level, the traveler sees a landscape that has changed dramatically, in which the main place is now occupied by lichens, cacti and dwarf shrubs.

When planning a trip to South America, it should be borne in mind that it is impossible to see all the places where the Andes are located, because even on the map the mountains are too large, and the variety of architectural and historical monuments, natural areas and landscapes, tourist routes and cultural events makes them completely immense.

Horse crossing over the Andes

Sources and links

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Of course, there is only one right answer to the question of where the Andes are located. South America is the country where such unique mountains which are the only ones in the world. The peculiarity of their structure has been an object of study for all scientists and researchers since ancient times. They are unique and not fully understood yet. An ordinary person perceives this mountain system as a natural phenomenon as a symbol of the power of nature.

They stretch along the outskirts of all of South America and have a length of thousands of kilometers. It is established that the length of the entire relief transformation is more than 9000 km. For our country, such figures seem incredible, and therefore the Andes are a real dream of our compatriots. It should be noted that not only the length becomes amazing, the width of some sections reaches from 500 km to 700 km, which is a unique natural transformation.

Pieces of history to be told

Sometimes the Andes are called the "natural barrier" that protects the climatic space of America. Being a single mountain complex, each site has its own characteristics, features, differences. It is conditionally possible to divide three clearly defined sections, which, according to the corresponding location, have the same names:

• Northern Andes;
• Central;
• Southern.

When a person hears the question - where are the Andes mountains, then the correct answer is very inaccurate. They are located in seven different states, and therefore the exact coordinates or the area of ​​interest should always be indicated.

This is important and useful to know...

The name of the mountains has a hundred-year history. Even experienced researchers cannot say and answer exactly, but there are many legends and facts. To go to this continent, it is very useful to know the most interesting points. So, there is an opinion that the name "Andes" take their name from the first settlements, but according to the theory of the Italian scientist, the story of the creation of a different type is more likely. The name came from the appearance of these transformations, initially "Andes, o cordilleras" was called the eastern ridge, and after that the name spread to the entire territory of these magnificent mountains.

In addition to the name, these transformations are unique in everything. They are unique and are called "reborn again". Of particular interest here are plant and animal world which is varied and unique. The main value of this natural wealth is minerals.

It is very interesting that, according to the location, each state is rich in its own natural resources and fossils, leading to unique market relations. The main activity within the mountains is the mining industry.

If you are wondering where the Andes are located on the map, then you can see them, even without certain knowledge of geography. They are defined in a special white-green color, and the exact coordinates are always fixed.

The peculiarity of the mountains is that each separate section of the mountain connection of one line was formed in the so-called different geological periods, so you can observe here completely dissimilar natural zones, landscapes, of course, mountainous reliefs.

There are really many places in the Andes that are worth seeing - snow-capped peaks and glaciers, rocky low and high gorges, plateaus.

The mountain range is the largest watershed between the rivers of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

What do we know about earthquakes?

Here and now, earthquakes of various kinds and forces are taking place, which are the main difficulty for tourists. Also within the mountains is the famous, greatest active volcano, which the inhabitants refer to as the "God of Volcanoes", its height varies within 6722 meters.

Why is the Andes considered an important asset of the world?

In an era when people choose to live an active lifestyle, the Andes become a goal to be reached. This is the most real paradise for those tourists who love mountains and rock climbing, who are ready to risk their lives for the sake of adrenaline and get real pleasure.

There are always a lot of outdoor enthusiasts here, for whom the mountains are the best place for pastime. That is why every extreme knows exactly which continent the Andes are on and which point of these transformations is especially interesting. They come here from different corners peace and enjoy an unforgettable experience. One such trip is equivalent to a real event, it is an invaluable experience and a sea of ​​​​impressions.

But the main point, nevertheless, is that a single system of mountains is diverse. Each state has its own heritage, which was given by nature. Different climatic conditions, different design of mountains - they are so contrasting and unique. It is not surprising that it is impossible to describe them in one word, these mountains are a complex of diversity and different facets. Even at school, children learn where the Andes are, and over time they begin to dream of seeing them in reality. In fact, it is worth visiting South America, because this is a completely different world, here you will never see something ordinary and understandable.

A few words about the route

If you have decided to make an entertaining trip to the beautiful and charming South America, remember that you will not be able to see everything, it will not be possible to visit all the places. Since even on the map these mountains are quite long, and the variety of architectural monuments, natural areas and landscapes, unique routes and cultural heritage makes them completely immense.

The Andes mountain system, in fact, cannot be described with words and sentences, because not only are they “very, very long” or “the oldest”, any terms and concepts will not describe all the beauty and uniqueness.

) and are distinguished (especially in the central part) by sharp contrasts in the moistening of the eastern (leeward) and western (windward) slopes.

Due to the considerable length of the Andes, their individual landscape parts differ significantly from each other. By the nature of the relief and other natural differences, as a rule, three main regions are distinguished - the Northern, Central and Southern Andes.

The Andes stretched through the territories of seven states of South America - Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina

Encyclopedic YouTube

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✪ Exciting locations. Spectacular Andes - (1 episode of 10) -

✪ ANDES, REAL LIFE in the 21st century (Happy people)

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✪ Andes Mountains (Very beautiful)

Subtitles

Name history

According to the Italian historian Giovanni Anello Oliva (r.), originally the conquering Europeans “ Andes or Cordillera” (“Andes, o cordilleras”) was the name of the eastern ridge, while the western was called “ sierra» ("sierra") . Currently, most scientists believe that the name comes from the Quechuan word anti(high ridge, ridge), although there are other opinions [ which?] .

Geological structure and relief

Andes - revived mountains, erected by the latest uplifts on the site of the so-called Andean (Cordillera) fold geosinklinal belt; The Andes are one of the largest Alpine folding systems on the planet (on the Paleozoic and partly Baikal folded basement). The beginning of the formation of the Andes refers to the Jurassic time. The Andean mountain system is characterized by troughs formed in the Triassic, subsequently filled with layers of sedimentary and volcanic rocks of considerable thickness. Large massifs of the Main Cordillera and the coast of Chile, the Coastal Cordillera of Peru are Cretaceous granitoid intrusions. Intermountain and marginal troughs (Altiplano, Maracaibo, etc.) formed in the Paleogene and Neogene times. Tectonic movements, accompanied by seismic and volcanic activity, continue in our time. This is due to the fact that a subduction zone passes along the Pacific coast of South America: the Nazca and Antarctic plates go under the South American one, which contributes to the development of mountain building processes. The extreme southern part of South America, Tierra del Fuego, is separated by a transform fault from a small plate, Scotia. Beyond the Drake Strait, the Andes continue with the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula.

The Andes are rich in ores, mainly non-ferrous metals (vanadium, tungsten, bismuth, tin, lead, molybdenum, zinc, arsenic, antimony, etc.); the deposits are confined mainly to the Paleozoic structures of the eastern Andes and the vents of ancient volcanoes; in Chile - large copper deposits. In the advanced and foothill troughs there is oil and gas (in the foothills of the Andes within Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina), in the weathering crusts - bauxites. In the Andes there are also deposits of iron (in Bolivia), sodium nitrate (in Chile), gold, platinum and emeralds (in Colombia).

The Andes consist mainly of meridional parallel ranges: the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes, the Central Cordillera of the Andes, the Western Cordillera of the Andes, the Coastal Cordillera of the Andes, between which lie the internal plateaus and plateaus (Puna, Altiplano - in Bolivia and Peru) or depressions. The width of the mountain system is mainly 200-300 km.

Orography

Northern Andes

The main system of the Andes mountains (Andean Cordillera) consists of parallel ridges stretching in the meridional direction, separated by internal plateaus or depressions. Only the Caribbean Andeslocated within Venezuela and belonging to Northern Andes, stretched sublatitudinally along the coast of the Caribbean Sea. The northern Andes also include the Ecuadorian Andes (in Ecuador) and the Northwestern Andes (in western Venezuela and Colombia). The highest ridges of the Northern Andes have small modern glaciers, and eternal snows on volcanic cones. The islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao in the Caribbean Sea represent the peaks of the continuation of the Northern Andes descending into the sea.

In the Northwestern Andes, fan-shaped diverging north of 12 ° N. sh., there are three main Cordillera - Eastern, Central and Western. All of them are high, steeply sloping and have a folded-block structure. They are characterized by faults, uplifts and subsidences of modern times. The main Cordilleras are separated by large depressions - the valleys of the rivers Magdalena and Cauca - Patia.

The Eastern Cordillera has nai great height in its northeastern part (Mount Ritakuwa, 5493 m); in the center of the Eastern Cordillera - an ancient lake plateau (the prevailing heights are 2.5 - 2.7 thousand m); the Eastern Cordillera is generally characterized by large leveling surfaces. In the highlands there are glaciers. In the north, the Eastern Cordillera is continued by the Cordillera de Merida (the highest point is Mount Bolivar, 5007 m) and the Sierra de Perija (reaches a height of 3,540 m); between these ranges, in a vast low-lying depression, lies Lake Maracaibo. In the far north - the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta horst massif with altitudes up to 5800 m (Mount Cristobal Colon)

The valley of the Magdalena River separates the Eastern Cordillera from the Central, relatively narrow and high; in the Central Cordillera (especially in its southern part) there are many volcanoes (Huila, 5750 m; Ruiz, 5400 m; etc.), some of them are active (Kumbal, 4890 m). To the north, the Central Cordillera drops somewhat and forms the Antioquia massif, strongly dissected by river valleys. Western Cordillera, separated from Central Valley river Cauca, has lower heights (up to 4200 m); in the south of the Western Cordillera - volcanism. Further to the west is the low (up to 1810 m) Serraniu de Baudo ridge, which passes in the north into the mountains of Panama. North and west of the Northwest Andes are the Caribbean and Pacific alluvial lowlands.

As part of the Equatorial (Ecuadorian) Andes, reaching up to 4 ° S, there are two Cordillera (Western and Eastern), separated by depressions 2500-2700 m high. Along the faults that limit these depressions (depressions) - one of the highest volcanic chains (the highest volcanoes are Chimborazo, 6267 m, Cotopaxi, 5897 m). These volcanoes, as well as those of Colombia, form the first volcanic region of the Andes.

Central Andes

In the Central Andes (up to 28 ° S), the Peruvian Andes are distinguished (spreading south to 14 ° 30′ S) and the Central Andes proper. In the Peruvian Andes, as a result of recent uplifts and intensive incision of rivers (the largest of which - Marañon, Ucayali and Huallaga - belong to the system of the upper Amazon), parallel ridges (Eastern, Central and Western Cordillera) and a system of deep longitudinal and transverse canyons were formed, which dissected the ancient leveling surface . The peaks of the Cordillera of the Peruvian Andes exceed 6000 m (the highest point is Mount Huascaran, 6768 m); in Cordillera Blanca - modern glaciation. Alpine landforms are also developed on the blocky ridges of the Cordillera Vilcanota, Cordillera de Vilcabamba, Cordillera de Carabaya.

To the south is the widest part of the Andes - the Central Andean Highlands (up to 750 km wide), where arid geomorphological processes predominate; a significant part of the highlands is occupied by the Pune plateau with heights of 3.7 - 4.1 thousand m. Pune is characterized by drainless basins ("bolsons"), occupied by lakes (Titicaca, Poopo, etc.) and salt marshes (Atacama, Koipasa, Uyuni, etc. .). To the east of Pune - Cordillera Real (Ankouma peak, 6550 m) with powerful modern glaciation; between the Altiplano plateau and the Cordillera Real, at an altitude of 3700 m, is the city of La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, the highest mountain in the world. East of the Cordillera Real - Subandian folded ranges of the Eastern Cordillera, reaching up to 23 ° S.l. The southern continuation of the Cordillera Real is the Central Cordillera, as well as several blocky massifs (the highest point is Mount El Libertador, 6720 m). From the west, Pune is framed by the Western Cordillera with intrusive peaks and numerous volcanic peaks (Sahama, 6780 m; Lullaillaco, 6739 m; San Pedro, 6145 m; Misti, 5821 m; etc.), which are part of the second volcanic region of the Andes. South of 19°S the western slopes of the Western Cordillera overlook tectonic basin A longitudinal valley occupied in the south by the Atacama Desert. Behind the Longitudinal Valley there is a low (up to 1500 m) intrusive Coastal Cordillera, which is characterized by arid sculptural relief forms.

In Pune and in the western part of the Central Andes, there is a very high snow line (in some places above 6,500 m), therefore, snow is noted only on the highest volcanic cones, and glaciers are found only in the Ojos del Salado massif (up to 6,880 m high).

Southern Andes

IN Southern Andes, extending south of 28 ° S, distinguish two parts - the northern (Chile-Argentine, or Subtropical Andes) and the southern (Patagonian Andes). In the Chilean-Argentinean Andes, tapering to the south and reaching 39 ° 41′ S, a three-membered structure is pronounced - Coastal Cordillera, Longitudinal Valley and Main Cordillera; within the latter, in the Cordillera Frontal, - the highest peak of the Andes, Mount Aconcagua (6960 m), as well as major peaks Tupungato (6800 m), Mercedario (6770 m). The snow line here is very high (at 32°40′ S - 6000 m). East of the Cordillera Frontal are the ancient Precordillera.

South of 33°S (and up to 52 ° S) is the third volcanic area Andes, where there are many active (mainly in the Main Cordillera and to the west of it) and extinct volcanoes(Tupungato, Maipa, Limo, etc.)

When moving south, the snow line gradually decreases and under 51 ° S.l. reaches the mark of 1460 m. high ridges acquire features of the Alpine type, the area of ​​modern glaciation increases, numerous glacial lakes appear. South of 40°S the Patagonian Andes begin with lower ridges than in the Chilean-Argentine Andes (the highest point is Mount San Valentin - 4058 m) and active volcanism in the north. About 52° S the heavily dissected Coastal Cordillera plunges into the ocean, and its peaks form a chain of rocky islands and archipelagos; The longitudinal valley turns into a system of straits reaching the western part of the Strait of Magellan. In the area of ​​the Strait of Magellan, the Andes (here called the Andes of Tierra del Fuego) deviate sharply to the east. In the Patagonian Andes, the height of the snow line barely exceeds 1500 m (in the extreme south it is 300-700 m, and from 46 ° 30′ S. glaciers descend to ocean level), glacial landforms predominate (below 48 ° S - powerful Patagonian ice sheet) with an area of ​​​​over 20 thousand km², from where many kilometers of glacial tongues descend to the west and east); some of the valley glaciers on the eastern slopes end in large lakes. Along the coast, heavily indented by fjords, young volcanic cones rise (Corcovado and others). The Andes of Tierra del Fuego are relatively low (up to 2469 m).

Climate

Northern Andes

The northern part of the Andes belongs to the subequatorial zone of the Northern Hemisphere; here, as in the subequatorial belt of the Southern Hemisphere, there is an alternation of wet and dry seasons; Precipitation falls from May to November, but at its most northern regions the wet season is shorter. The eastern slopes are much more humid than the western ones; precipitation (up to 1000 mm per year) falls mainly in summer. In the Caribbean Andes, located on the border of the tropical and subequatorial zones, tropical air dominates throughout the year; there is little precipitation (often less than 500 mm per year); the rivers are short with characteristic summer floods.

In the equatorial belt, seasonal fluctuations are practically absent; so, in the capital of Ecuador Quito change average monthly temperatures per year is only 0.4 °C. Precipitation is plentiful (up to 10000 mm per year, although usually 2500-7000 mm per year) and more evenly distributed over the slopes than in the subequatorial belt. The altitudinal zonation is clearly expressed. In the lower part of the mountains - a hot and humid climate, precipitation falls almost daily; in the depressions there are numerous swamps. With altitude, the amount of precipitation decreases, but at the same time, the thickness of the snow cover increases. Up to altitudes of 2500-3000 m, temperatures rarely drop below 15 ° C, seasonal temperature fluctuations are insignificant. Here, daily temperature fluctuations are already large (up to 20 ° C), the weather can change dramatically during the day. At altitudes of 3500-3800 m, daily temperatures already fluctuate around 10 °C. Above - a harsh climate with frequent snowstorms and snowfalls; daytime temperatures are positive, but there are severe frosts at night. The climate is dry, as there is little precipitation due to high evaporation. Above 4500 m - eternal snow.

Central Andes

Between 5° and 28° S there is a pronounced asymmetry in the distribution of precipitation along the slopes: the western slopes are much less moistened than the eastern ones. West of the Cordillera Main - deserted tropical climate(the formation of which the cold Peruvian current contributes a lot), there are very few rivers. If in the northern part of the Central Andes 200-250 mm of precipitation falls annually, then to the south their amount decreases and in some places does not exceed 50 mm per year. In this part of the Andes is Atacama - the driest desert in the world. Deserts rise in places up to 3000 m above sea level. A few oases are located mainly in the valleys of small rivers fed by the waters of mountain glaciers. Average January temperature in coastal areas ranges from 24 °C in the north to 19 °C in the south, the average July - from 19 °C in the north to 13 °C in the south. Above 3000 m, in a dry puna, there is also little precipitation (rarely more than 250 mm per year); arrivals of cold winds are noted, when the temperature can drop to -20 ° C. The average July temperature does not exceed 15 °C.

At low altitudes, with an extremely small amount of rain, significant (up to 80%) air humidity, so fogs and dews are frequent. The Altiplano and Puna plateaus have a very harsh climate, with average annual temperatures not exceeding 10 °C. The large Lake Titicaca has a moderating effect on the climate of the surrounding areas - in the lakeside areas, temperature fluctuations are not as significant as in other parts of the plateau. To the east of the Main Cordillera there is a large (3000 - 6000 mm per year) amount of precipitation (brought mainly in the summer by east winds), a dense river network. Through the valleys, air masses from the Atlantic Ocean cross the Eastern Cordillera, moistening its western slope as well. Above 6000 m in the north and 5000 m in the south - negative average annual temperatures; due to the dry climate, there are few glaciers.

Southern Andes

In the Chilean-Argentine Andes, the climate is subtropical, and the humidification of the western slopes - due to winter cyclones - is greater than in the subequatorial zone; when moving south, the annual precipitation on the western slopes increases rapidly. Summer is dry, winter is wet. As you move away from the ocean, the continentality of the climate increases, and seasonal temperature fluctuations increase. In the city of Santiago, located in the Longitudinal Valley, the average temperature of the warmest month is 20 ° C, the coldest - 7-8 ° C; there is little precipitation in Santiago, 350 mm per year (to the south, in Valdivia, there is more precipitation - 750 mm per year). On the western slopes of the Main Cordillera, precipitation is more than in the Longitudinal Valley (but less than on the Pacific coast).

When moving south, the subtropical climate of the western slopes smoothly passes into the oceanic climate of temperate latitudes: the annual precipitation increases, and the differences in seasonal moisture decrease. Strong westerly winds bring to the coast a large number of precipitation (up to 6000 mm per year, although usually 2000-3000 mm). More than 200 days a year go heavy rains, thick fogs often fall on the coast, while the sea is constantly stormy; the climate is unfavorable for living. The eastern slopes (between 28° and 38° S) are drier than the western (and only in temperate zone, south of 37 ° S, due to the influence of westerly winds, their moisture increases, although they remain less humid compared to western ones). The average temperature of the warmest month on the western slopes is only 10-15 ° C (the coldest - 3-7 ° C)

In the extreme southern part of the Andes, on Tierra del Fuego, there is a very humid climate, which is formed by strong humid western and southwestern winds; precipitation (up to 3000 mm) falls mainly in the form of drizzling rain (which occurs most of the days of the year). Only in the easternmost part of the archipelago is much less precipitation. Throughout the year are low temperatures(although temperature fluctuations by season are extremely small).

Vegetation and soils

The soil and vegetation cover of the Andes is very diverse. This is due to the high altitudes of the mountains, a significant difference in the moisture content of the western and eastern slopes. Altitudinal zonality in the Andes is clearly expressed. There are three altitudinal belts- Tierra Caliente, Tierra Fria and Tierra Elada.

On the slopes of the Patagonian Andes south of 38°S. - subarctic multi-tiered forests of tall trees and shrubs, mostly evergreen, on

The length of the Andes - 9000 km

Andes or Andean Cordillera, in the language of the Incas - copper mountains. They form the longest mountain range in the world. Their length is 9000 km - from the Caribbean Sea to Tierra del Fuego. The most high mountain this mountain range - Akonkagau (6962 m). There are places where the Andes are 500 km wide, and maximum width the longest mountains in the world - 750 km (Central Andes, Andean Highlands). Most The Andes occupies the Puna plateau. There is a very high snow line here, which reaches 6500 m, and the average height of the mountains is 4000 m.

The Andes are relatively young mountains, the process of mountain building ended many millions of years ago. The origin began in the Precambrian and Paleozoic periods. Then, on the site of the boundless ocean, land areas were just beginning to emerge. Throughout the time, the area where the current Andes are located was either sea or land.

Andean education

The formation of the mountain range ended with the uplift of rocks, as a result of which huge folds of stone moved to a very high height. This process continues to this day. The Andes have volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Most long mountains in the world are also the largest inter-oceanic watershed. The Andes are the source of the Amazon and its tributaries, as well as tributaries of others. major rivers South America - Paraguay, Orinoco, Parana. The Andes serve as a climatic barrier for the mainland, that is, they isolate the land from the influence of the Atlantic Ocean from the west, and from the Pacific Ocean from the east.

Climate and relief of the Andes

The Andes lie in 6 climatic zones: northern and southern subequatorial, southern tropical, equatorial, subtropical temperate. On the western slopes of the mountains, up to 10 thousand millimeters of precipitation falls annually. As a result of the length, the landscape parts differ significantly from each other.

According to the relief, the Andes are divided into three regions: central, northern, southern. The Caribbean Andes and the Ecuadorian Andes, the Northwestern Andes belong to the Northern Andes. The main Cordilleras are separated by depressions of the valleys of the Magdalena and Cauca rivers. There are many volcanoes in this valley. These are Huila - 5750 m, Ruiz - 5400 m, and the current Cumbal - 4890 m.

Volcanoes of the Andes

The Ecuadorian Andes include a high volcanic chain with the highest volcanoes Chimborazo - 6267 m and Cotopaxi - 58967 m. They stretch through seven states of South America: Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile. TO Central Andes include the Peruvian Andes. The highest point is Mount Huascaran - 6768.

If you had to learn geography at school, then most likely you passed which mountain range is the longest in the world. The correct answer to this question is the Andes - after all, the length of this mountain range is 9,000 kilometers. Is it located unique miracle nature in South America, and starts from its southern part and ends in the north.

Geographic location

The Andean Cordillera runs through everything Western countries Latin America and are characterized by variables climatic conditions. East End The Andes is characterized by permanent ridges that appeared here in the Cenozoic era. Reflecting on the question of where the Andes are, for some reason they recall ancient states in South America, which arose even before the development of civilizations. The tribes of the Aztecs, Incas, the Mayan tribe created an indelible atmosphere of the secret and mysterious here. For example, one of the wonders of the world, Machu Picchu, is located in these mountains.

Highlighted in dark color - the Andes mountain range

Minerals of the mountain range

Most of the Andean countries use rocks for mining. So, for example, Peru extracts copper, gold and silver from the mountain bowels. Despite the fact that Peru is still an agricultural country, the extraction of these minerals makes a significant contribution to the development of the economy. Another South American country, Argentina, extracts oil and gas from the eastern foothills, extracts zinc, lead, copper and aluminum from the very mountain ores. In general, Argentina is one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America, so you can talk a lot about it, but because. in this article we consider a mountain range, then we will go further. The next South American country located where the Andes are located is Chile. This country is today the largest exporter of copper in the world. Thanks to the mountain range passing through its territory, the state is beginning to develop the extraction of other non-ferrous metals, which in the future will allow it to develop the economic infrastructure in the country.

The next state, located on the eastern part of the Andes and their foothills, is Bolivia. It is characterized by one of the world's largest mining of tin, zinc and tungsten. The presence of foothills on the territory of the country makes it possible to extract oil and gas, which is so necessary for the energy development of the region. It is worth mentioning another state located in the same place - Colombia. Despite the fact that this country is primarily associated with Pablo Escobar, coffee and drugs, the mining industry here is one of the most important sectors of the economy. Gold, platinum, 90% of all emeralds in the world are mined here.

Sights of the mountain range

Machu Picchu

Being a kind of wall, the Andes more than once protected the countries located to the east of the mountain range from natural disasters. Mountains are the “feeding trough” for the economies of many countries whose territories this mountain range crosses. In addition to the mining component of the economies of states, the Andes are also tourist center. So, on the territory of Peru there is a new wonder of the world, recognized as such in 2007 - Machu Picchu, lost city Incas, located at an altitude of 2450 meters.

Also on the territory of the mountain range, at an altitude of 3650 meters, there is a dried-up salt lake (salt marsh) - Uyuni. This is a huge area (10,500 square kilometers) of land, on the surface of which table salt is located, the depth of which reaches 8 meters.

Uyuni - dried salt lake

Other amazing place in these mountains is the driest desert in the world - Atacama. It is located just to the west of the main mountain range in the state of Chile. Despite the fact that Atacama is the driest desert on Earth, the average temperature in January here is 19 degrees Celsius, June - 13 degrees.

most high point mountain range, southern and western hemisphere is Mount Aconcagua. Its height is 6962 meters above sea level. It got its name from the ancient Quechua language, Ackon Cahuak, which means "Stone Guardian". It is located in the central part of the mountain range, in Argentina.

In addition to the largest salt marsh in the world, the Andes is home to the most big lake by reserves fresh water in South America - Titicaca. It got its name in the same way as the highest mountain from the ancient language of the Quechua Indians, which means rock (kaka) and puma (titi) - a sacred animal. The lake is also the highest navigable lake in the world. Located on the territory of two states, Peru and Bolivia, Titicaca has average depth at 130 meters and a temperature of 12-14 degrees. Despite this, the lake often freezes off the coast, as it is located at an altitude of 3800 meters above sea level.

The most full-flowing lake in South America - Titicaca