At over 7,000 kilometers, the Andes have the highest peaks of any mountain range located in South America. They are also commonly referred to as the Andean Mountains. The term ‘Andes’ is thought to derive from the word ‘anti,’ which, in Quechua language, means ‘High crest.’
However, some argue that the word comes from the Anti Suyu region, which was conquered by the Incas tribe and which lies within the mountain range.
Andes is among the features of the earth which is physiographical and carries enormous importance for the people, the flora and fauna, the geology, and physiognomy of the region.
This article will provide my range of information about the mountainous region of the Andes, including its geographical location, its features, and other associated facts.
Range of Andes Mountains
Location and extent of more than 21,000 km in South America, the Andes Mountains extend from Chile in the south to Venezuela in the north. These latitudes are between 18ºS and 20ºN, which run approximately 650 km between Peru and Bolivia.
The average horizontal length is around 4000 miles, while its vertical range measures more than 7000-7242 km for Chile. The Andes mountains have an average height of 13,000 feet or roughly 4000 m. Mount Aconcagua in Argentina has the highest peak of the Andes mountains, standing at 6,962 meters.
Location of the Andes Mountains
The Andes Mountains run through Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Bolivia. They may be categorized based on geographical location from north to south in the following broad divisions :
- The Southern Andes. Located south of the Llullaillaco, these Andes consist of the Chilean, Patagonian, and the Fuegian cordilleras. They range from Argentina to Chile.
- The Central Andes. Comprised of the Peruvian cordilleras in the regions of Peru and Bolivia.
- The Northern Andes. These are located more towards the northern part of Peru to encompass the Colombian, Caribbean and the Ecuadorian cordilleras. They are found in regions such as Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia.
20 Breathtaking Facts About the Andes Mountains
Fact 1. It was formed as a result of plate-tectonic forces
The Andes were the outcome of the global plate – tectonic movement. The activity happened approximately 65 million years ago during the Cenozoic Era. The combination of the South American Plate and the Plate of Nazca along this timeframe had a series of orogenic activities which formed the Andes.
It is estimated that the Andes mountains began forming at least 25 million years ago, as there is over a 40,000 ft height difference between the lowest point of both Peru’s and Chile’s Atacama desert compared to the highest mountain peak located in Argentina.
Fact 2. It has a varying climate
The climate is different based on how close or far one is from the sea, the altitude of the place and the distance from the equator. The northern parts of the Andes are warm and rainy, the middle regions experience less precipitation and the southern end receives more rainfall along with lower temperatures.
In tropical parts of the Andes such as Columbia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, a snow line is noticed around 4500-4800 meters elevation. For the southern parts of Peru and Chile, which are about 30 degrees south, the snow line is 4800m. In Tierra del Fuego, the glaciers are almost at sea level.
Fact 3. It has many active volcanoes like the Ring of Fire
Volcanic activities observed along the Andes Mountain are due to the movement of tectonic plates and the processes that led to their formation.
Regions that belong to the Ring of Fire, which is a necklace of volcanoes surrounding the Pacific Ocean, have volcanoes that constantly erupt and cause earthquakes very common in those regions.
Consequently, several summits within the Andean Mountain ranges are active volcanoes, whereas others are considered dormant.
Located on the boundary of Chile and Argentina, Ojos del Soldado Mountain is the world’s highest volcano at 6,893 meters, but it is currently inactive. Cotopaxi Mountain, located in Ecuador, is the highest active volcano in the world at 5,897 meters.
Fact 4. It has the farthest point from Earth’s center
The peak of Chimborazo has the farthest distance from Earth’s center. 6,384 kilometers was the distance measured from the peak of Chimborazo to the center of the earth as opposed to the distance of the Himalayas, which is lower by two kilometers.
It enables Chimborazo to stand as the prime location of the Earth from which one can travel to outer space, alongside the moon.
Perched at an altitude of 6278 meters above the sea in the Ecuadorean Andes, Chimborazo’s peak is at 6.268m, which confirms it to be the highest point of the Earth.
Fact 5. It’s a source of major water systems, including the Amazon and Orinoco rivers
The Andes mountain chains give birth to numerous lakes and rivers, including the Amazon and Orinoco. Located at a height of 3812 meters above sea level, is the highest lake that is open for commercial navigation and is called area of Peru and Bolivia.
The region of Bolivia and Peru is home to some astounding geographical marvels, the Andes mountain range is located here which is a source for the two paramount river systems in South America, Orinoco and Amazon.
Fact 6. The world’s largest Salt Flat is found in the region
Situated in the mountain ranges of the Andes, the region has the largest spanning salt flat on the surface of the Earth, known as the Salar de Uyuni. It has a range of 10582km as well.
The Andes Range of Bolivia, South America, is at an altitude of 3650 meters above sea level.
Fact 7. The region has several plateaus
The Andes Mountain Range has several plateaus from which the major metropolises of the region are located: Quito, La Paz, Medellin, Bogota, Sucre, Arequipa, and Merida.
Fact 8. It has a population of about 85 million people
About eighty-four and a half million people are distributed in the region of the Andes and relatively 44% of this population lives in the Andean countries.
So, if estimation were done, almost one-third of the population of South American continent lives in the Andes, mostly in the large cities.
Fact 9. It is endowed with numerous natural minerals
The high Andes Mountain having an area of Peru and Chile are most populated with copper and so is territory of Peru and Bolivia which has silver, lead, zinc with some other regions having bismuth, tin, iron, coal regions of Chile, Peru, and Colombia.
These places with abundant minerals have attracted people and made the area rich in gold, silver, tin, and also copper. Oil is found in the mountain range of The Andes, especially on the eastern side.
Fact 10. Cropping activities performs poorly in the Andes
Crop farming is challenging in the Andes due to poor crop yields. There is not enough water supply and the majority of the plateaus are semi-arid with erratic rainfall. Additionally, the frigid temperatures of the high plains leads to plant frost.
In addition, the soils have a lack of organic constituents that are essential for agricultural development, but they are shallow and rich in minerals.
Regardless, farmers tend to cultivate on the hill sides and as a whole the Andes produce a relatively large amount of crops. The principal crops exported include coffee, tobacco, and cotton. Other farms grow coca plant, the source of cocaine predominantly in Colombia and Bolivia.
Fact 11. The region is mainly utilized for pastures
The plateau section of the Andes have primarily been developed as pasture land. Colombia raises cattle for export while Peru has increased his investment into milk production. The livestock reared in the region is the llama, sheep, alpaca, and goats.
Fact 12. The ranges are rich in fauna with over 1,000 different species
In this part of the world, one may encounter nearly a thousand individual species of animals. Two portions of the entire species distribution in the area have populated these mountains for many years.
There are 400 types of fish, 600 types of reptiles, over 1,700 birds, and 600 mammals. There are also endangered crepuscular chinchillas and other animals.
Fact 13. It has about 30,000 species of Flora
Many floristic areas are crossed by the ranges. From the cape horn regions, which are wet and cold, the Atacama desert regions, and the rainforests, it is estimated that approximately 30,000 plant species are found in this area. This diversity of plant life is unique to alongside the Andes mountain range.
Fact 14. It is touted to be the origin of some of the world’s important crops like potatoes and Cinchona pubescens used to produce quinine for treating malaria
Cinchona pubescens which produces quinine for malaria is found in the Andes mountain along with other important crops such as potatoes, tobacco, and tomatoes.
Fact 15. Its host numerous Islands
Islands of Curacao, Aruba, and Bonaire which surround the Caribbean Sea bordering the coast of Venezuela belong to the Group of Islands. The Islands sit atop the northern submerged portions of the Andes mountain ranges.
Fact 16. The Incas civilization occurred in the Andes in 1400
The tribe wielded great and elaborate governmental power to help manage vice royalty in the Andes. They built aqueducts and constructed roads which can still be found in modern times.
Fact 17. Most local communities in the Andes depend on donkeys, mules, oxen, llama, and horses for transportation
The mountain is an obstacle for single most developed mode of communications. Some placed towns are known to have literally no road systems at all for other easier places to build roads.
Fact 18. One of the main road networks in the Andes region is the Pan American Highway
The Pan American Highway acts as the backbone in connecting the various cities located in the Western region of the Andes.
Fact 19. The “Lost City of The Incas” is one of the most renowned historical sites in the Andes
Popularly known as “The Lost City of Incas”, Machu Pichu is one of the best known archaeological sites in Andes region. This region was once part of Inca Empire and is situated on the Periphery of Andes bordering Amazon.
Fact 20. The Andes contributes 52% out of the 63.6% of hydroelectricity that is supplied in the seven countries that it crosses
For instance, Bolivia, Colombia, and Chile are some of the countries that mostly rely on the lakes and the reservoirs located in the Andes region for power generation.