Andes mountains - information, photos, descriptions, facts. Cordillera: "Grand Mountain Ranges"

The Andes are a major interoceanic divide. To the east of the Andes flow the rivers of the Atlantic Ocean. The Amazon itself and many of its major tributaries, as well as tributaries of the Orinoco, Paraguay, Paraná, Magdalena River and Patagonian River, originate in the Andes. To the west of the Andes flow mostly short rivers belonging to the Pacific Ocean basin.

The Andes also serve as the most important climatic barrier in South America, isolating the territories to the west of the Main Cordillera from the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, and to the east from the influence of the Pacific Ocean.

The mountains lie in 5 climatic zones:

equatorial,
subequatorial,
tropical,
subtropical,
moderate.

They are distinguished by sharp contrasts in the moisture content of the eastern (leeward) and western (windward) slopes.

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

The Andes stretch across the territories of 7 countries in South America:

Venezuela,
Colombia,
Ecuador,
Peru,
Bolivia,
Chile,
Argentina.

Vegetation and soils

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

The Andes Mountains of Venezuela are home to deciduous forests and shrubs on mountainous red soils.

The lower parts of the windward slopes from the Northwestern Andes to the Central Andes are covered with montane moist equatorial and tropical forests on lateritic soils (montane hylaea), as well as mixed forests of evergreen and deciduous species. The appearance of equatorial forests differs little from the appearance of these forests in the flat part of the continent; Characterized by various palm trees, ficuses, bananas, cocoa trees, etc.

Higher (up to altitudes of 2500-3000 m) the nature of the vegetation changes; typical are bamboos, tree ferns, coca bush (which is a source of cocaine), and cinchona.

Between 3000 m and 3800 m - high-mountain hylea with low-growing trees and shrubs; Epiphytes and lianas are widespread, bamboos, tree ferns, evergreen oaks, myrtaceae, and heathers are typical.

Higher up there is predominantly xerophytic vegetation, paramos, with numerous Asteraceae; moss swamps on flat areas and lifeless rocky areas on steep slopes.

Above 4500 m there is a belt of eternal snow and ice.

To the south, in the subtropical Chilean Andes - evergreen shrubs on brown soils.

In the Longitudinal Valley there are soils whose composition resembles chernozems.

Vegetation of the high mountain plateaus: in the north - mountain equatorial meadows of paramos, in the Peruvian Andes and in the east of Puna - dry high-mountain tropical steppes of the halka, in the west of Puna and throughout the Pacific west between 5-28 ° south latitude - desert types of vegetation (in the Atacama Desert - succulent vegetation and cacti). Many surfaces are saline, which prevents the development of vegetation; In such areas, mainly wormwood and ephedra are found.

Above 3000 m (up to about 4500 m) there is semi-desert vegetation called dry puna; Dwarf shrubs (tholoi), grasses (feather grass, reed grass), lichens, and cacti grow.

To the east of the Main Cordillera, where there is more precipitation, there is steppe vegetation (puna) with numerous grasses (fescue, feather grass, reed grass) and cushion-shaped shrubs.

On the humid slopes of the Eastern Cordillera, tropical forests (palm trees, cinchona) rise to 1500 m, low-growing evergreen forests with a predominance of bamboo, ferns, and lianas reach 3000 m; at higher altitudes there are high-mountain steppes.

A typical inhabitant of the Andean highlands is polylepis, a plant of the Rosaceae family, common in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Chile; these trees are also found at an altitude of 4500 m.

In central Chile the forests have been largely cleared; Once upon a time, forests rose along the Main Cordillera to altitudes of 2500-3000 m (higher up were mountain meadows with alpine grasses and shrubs, as well as rare peat bogs), but now the mountain slopes are practically bare. Nowadays, forests are found only in the form of individual groves (pines, araucarias, eucalyptus, beeches and plane trees, with gorse and geranium in the undergrowth).

On the slopes of the Patagonian Andes south of 38° S. - subarctic multi-tiered forests of tall trees and shrubs, mostly evergreen, on brown forest (podzolized to the south) soils; there are a lot of mosses, lichens and lianas in the forests; south of 42° S - mixed forests (in the area of 42° S there is an array of araucaria forests). Beeches, magnolias, tree ferns, tall conifers, and bamboos grow. On the eastern slopes of the Patagonian Andes there are mainly beech forests. In the extreme south of the Patagonian Andes there is tundra vegetation.

In the extreme southern part of the Andes, Tierra del Fuego, forests (of deciduous and evergreen trees - such as southern beech and canelo) occupy only a narrow coastal strip in the west; Above the forest line, the snow belt begins almost immediately. In the east and in some places in the west, subantarctic mountain meadows and peatlands are common.

The Andes are the birthplace of cinchona, coca, tobacco, potatoes, tomatoes and other valuable plants.

Animal world

The fauna of the northern Andes is part of the Brazilian zoogeographic region and is similar to the fauna of the adjacent plains.

The fauna of the Andes south of 5° south latitude belongs to the Chilean-Patagonian subregion. The Andean fauna in general is characterized by an abundance of endemic genera and species.

The Andes are inhabited by llamas and alpacas (representatives of these two species are used by the local population for wool and meat, and also as pack animals), prehensile-tailed monkeys, relict spectacled bear, pudú and gaemal deer (which are endemic to the Andes), vicuña, guanaco, Azar's fox , sloths, chinchillas, opossums, anteaters, degu rodents.

In the south - the blue fox, the Magellanic dog, the endemic rodent tuco-tuco, etc. There are many birds, among them hummingbirds, which are also found at altitudes above 4000 m, but are especially numerous and diverse in the “foggy forests” (tropical rainforests of Colombia, Ecuador , Peru, Bolivia and the extreme north-west of Argentina, located in the fog condensation zone); endemic condor, rising to a height of up to 7 thousand m; and others. Some species (such as chinchillas, which were intensively exterminated in the 19th - early 20th centuries for the sake of their skins; wingless grebes and the Titicaca whistler, found only near Lake Titicaca; etc.) are under threat of extinction.

A special feature of the Andes is the large species diversity of amphibians (over 900 species). Also in the Andes there are about 600 species of mammals (13% are endemic), over 1,700 species of birds (of which 33.6% are endemic) and about 400 species of freshwater fish (34.5% are endemic).

Ecology

One of the main environmental problems of the Andes is the deforestation, which is no longer renewed; The tropical rainforests of Colombia, which are being intensively reduced to plantations of cinchona, coffee, and rubber, have been particularly hard hit.

Having developed agriculture, Andean countries are faced with problems of soil degradation, soil pollution with chemicals, erosion, as well as desertification due to overgrazing (especially in Argentina).

Environmental problems of coastal zones - pollution of sea water near ports and large cities (caused not least by the release of sewage waste and industrial waste into the ocean), uncontrolled fishing in large quantities.

As throughout the world, in the Andes there is an acute problem of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere (mainly during electricity generation, as well as in ferrous metallurgy enterprises). Oil refineries, oil wells and mines also make a significant contribution to environmental pollution (their activities lead to soil erosion and groundwater pollution; the activities of mines in Patagonia have had a detrimental effect on the biota of the area).

Due to a number of environmental problems, many species of animals and plants in the Andes are in danger of extinction.

Attractions

Lake Titicaca;
Lauca National Park;
Chiloe National Park; to Cape Horn National Park;
Santa Fe de Bogota: Catholic churches of the 16th-18th centuries, National Museum of Colombia;
Quito: Cathedral, Museum of Musical Instruments, Museo del Banco Central;
Cusco: Cusco Cathedral, La Campaña Church, Haitun Rumiyoc Street (remains of Inca buildings);
Lima: archaeological zones of Huaca Huallamarca and Huaca Pucllana, archbishop's palace, church and monastery of San Francisco;
Archaeological complexes: Machu Picchu, Pachacamac, ruins of the city of Caral, Sacsayhuaman, Tambomachay, Pukapukara, Quenco, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, ruins of Pikilyakta.

The capital of Bolivia, La Paz, is the highest capital in the world. It is located at an altitude of 3600 m above sea level.
200 km north of the city of Lima (Peru) are the ruins of the city of Caral - temples, amphitheaters, houses and pyramids. It is believed that Caral belonged to the oldest civilization in America and was built approximately 4000-4500 years ago. Archaeological excavations have shown that the city traded with large areas of the South American continent. It is especially interesting that archaeologists have not found any evidence of military conflicts for approximately a thousand years in the history of Caral.
One of the most mysterious historical monuments in the world is the monumental archaeological complex of Sacsayhuaman, located northwest of Cusco, at an altitude of approximately 3,700 meters above sea level. The fortress of the same name in this complex is attributed to the Inca civilization. However, it has not yet been possible to establish how the stones of these walls, weighing up to 200 tons and fitted to each other with pinpoint precision, were processed. Also, the ancient system of underground passages has not yet been fully explored.
The archaeological complex of Moray, located 74 kilometers from Cusco at an altitude of 3,500 meters, still arouses the admiration of not only archaeologists. Here, huge terraces, descending, form a kind of amphitheater. Research has shown that this structure was used by the Incas as an agricultural laboratory, since the different heights of the terraces made it possible to observe and experiment with plants in different climatic conditions. Here, different soils and a complex irrigation system were used; in total, the Incas grew 250 species of plants.

Inca Empire

The Age of Great Geographical Discovery (XV-XVII centuries) gave European adventurers the opportunity to quickly and fabulously get rich in new lands. Most often cruel and unprincipled, the conquistadors flocked to America not for the sake of scientific discoveries and cultural exchange between civilizations.

The fact that the papal throne recognized the Indians as spiritual beings in 1537 did not change anything in the methods of the conquistadors - they were not interested in theological disputes. By the time of the “humane” papal decision, the conquistador Francisco Pizarro had already managed to execute the Inca emperor Atahualpa (1533), defeat the Inca army and capture the capital of the empire, the city of Cusco (1536).

There is a version that at first the Indians mistook the Spaniards for gods. And it is quite possible that the main reason for this misconception was not the white skin of the aliens, not the fact that they sat astride unprecedented animals, and not even the fact that they possessed firearms. The Incas were amazed by the incredible cruelty of the conquistadors.

At the first meeting of Pizarro and Atahualpa, the Spaniards ambushed them, killed thousands of Indians and captured the emperor, who did not expect anything like this at all. After all, the Indians, whom the Spaniards condemned for human sacrifices, believed that human life was the highest gift, and that is why human sacrifice to the gods was the highest form of worship. But to just kill thousands of people who didn’t come for war at all?

There is no doubt that the Incas could offer serious resistance to the Spaniards. After the murder of the captive Atahualpa, for whom the Indians paid a monstrous ransom - almost 6 tons of gold, the conquistadors began to plunder the country, mercilessly melting down works of Incan jewelry into ingots. But Atahualpa’s brother Manco, who they appointed as the new emperor, instead of collecting gold for the invaders, fled and led the fight against the Spaniards. The last emperor, Tupac Amaru, was executed by the Viceroy of Peru, Francisco de Toledo, only in 1572, and even after that, the leaders of new uprisings were named after him.

Little has survived from the Inca civilization to the present day - after the death of hundreds of thousands of Indians, both at the hands of the Spaniards and from working in mines, famine, and European epidemics, there was no one to maintain the irrigation systems, high mountain roads, and beautiful buildings in order. The Spaniards destroyed a lot to get building material.

The country, whose inhabitants were accustomed to supplies from public warehouses, in which there were no beggars or vagabonds, became a zone of human disaster for many years after the arrival of the conquistadors.

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and glacier collapses in the Andes do not stop. In 1835, Charles Darwin observed the eruption of the Osorno volcano from the island of Chiloe. The earthquake described by Darwin destroyed the cities of Concepción and Talcahuano and claimed numerous victims. Such events are not uncommon in the Andes.

So, in 1970, a glacier in Peru literally buried the city of Yungay with almost all its inhabitants in seconds, killing about 20,000 people. In 2010, an earthquake in Chile claimed several hundred lives, left millions homeless and caused enormous property damage. In general, serious disasters occur in the Andes with a frightening cyclicity - once every 10-15 years.

The longest mountain system

The Inca Empire in the Andes is one of the most mysterious disappeared states. The tragic fate of a highly developed civilization, which appeared in far from favorable natural conditions and died at the hands of illiterate aliens, still worries humanity.
The Age of Great Geographical Discovery (XV-XVII centuries) gave European adventurers the opportunity to quickly and fabulously get rich in new lands. Most often cruel and unprincipled, the conquistadors flocked to America not for the sake of scientific discoveries and cultural exchange between civilizations.
The fact that the papal throne recognized the Indians as spiritual beings in 1537 did not change anything in the methods of the conquistadors - they were not interested in theological disputes. By the time of the “humane” papal decision, the conquistador Francisco Pizarro had already managed to execute the Inca emperor Atahualpa (1533), defeat the Inca army and capture the capital of the empire, the city of Cusco (1536).
There is a version that at first the Indians mistook the Spaniards for gods. And it is quite possible that the main reason for this misconception was not the white skin of the aliens, not the fact that they sat astride unprecedented animals, and not even the fact that they possessed firearms. The Incas were amazed by the incredible cruelty of the conquistadors.
At the first meeting of Pizarro and Atahualpa, the Spaniards ambushed them, killed thousands of Indians and captured the emperor, who did not expect anything like this at all. After all, the Indians, whom the Spaniards condemned for human sacrifices, believed that human life was the highest gift, and that is why human sacrifice to the gods was the highest form of worship. But to just destroy thousands of people who didn’t come for war at all?!
There is no doubt that the Incas could offer serious resistance to the Spaniards. After the murder of the captive Atahualpa, for whom the Indians paid a monstrous ransom - almost 6 tons of gold, the conquistadors began to plunder the country, mercilessly melting down works of Incan jewelry into ingots. But Atahualpa’s brother Manco, who they appointed as the new emperor, instead of collecting gold for the invaders, fled and led the fight against the Spaniards. The last emperor, Tupac Amaru, was executed by the Viceroy of Peru, Francisco de Toledo, only in 1572, and even after that, the leaders of new uprisings were named after him.
Little has survived from the Inca civilization to the present day - after the death of hundreds of thousands of Indians, both at the hands of the Spaniards and from working in mines, famine, and European epidemics, there was no one to maintain the irrigation systems, high mountain roads, and beautiful buildings in order. The Spaniards destroyed a lot to get building material.
The country, whose inhabitants were accustomed to supplies from public warehouses, in which there were no beggars or vagabonds, became a zone of human disaster for many years after the arrival of the conquistadors.

Nature

The Andes pass through all climatic zones, so the flora and fauna of these mountain ranges is very diverse.

Different theories place the age of the Andes mountain system from 18 million years to several hundred million years. But, more importantly for the people living in the Andes, the formation of these mountains is still ongoing.
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and glacier collapses in the Andes do not stop. In 1835, Charles Darwin observed the eruption of the Osorno volcano from the island of Chiloe. The earthquake described by Darwin destroyed the cities of Concepción and Talcahuano and claimed numerous victims. Such events are not uncommon in the Andes.
So, in 1970, a glacier in Peru literally buried the city of Yungay with almost all its inhabitants in seconds, killing about 20,000 people. In 2010, an earthquake in Chile claimed several hundred lives, left millions homeless and caused enormous property damage. In general, serious disasters occur in the Andes with a frightening cyclicity - once every 10-15 years.
The harshest climate is observed on the central plateaus of the Andes, where precipitation, if at all, occurs, even in the summer in the form of snow. It is believed that these highlands are the most barren and driest in the world, which is explained by the combination of thin dry air, fierce winds and blinding sun.
The Andes serve as an interoceanic watershed: rivers belonging to the Atlantic Ocean flow east of the Andes and many of them originate in the mountains; the Andes are the source of the Amazon itself, the largest river in the world. Rivers belonging to the Pacific Ocean basin are usually short, and they flow west of the Andes.
Also, the Andes, which are the longest in the world, are also a climatic barrier that isolates the Pacific coast of South America from the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, and most of the continent from the influence of the Pacific Ocean. As a result of the large extent of the Andes, their landscape parts differ significantly; according to various natural features, the Northern Andes (up to 5º S), the Central Andes (5-28" S) and the Southern Andes (28-41º30º S) are distinguished. Another feature of this mountain system is a clearly defined altitudinal zone, according to which three zones are distinguished - Tierra Caliente - the lower altitudinal forest belt, Tierra Fria - the upper forest belt and Tierra Elada - a belt with a harsh climate.
Depending on the distance from the equator and the altitude above sea level, both equatorial, tropical and subtropical forests with their abundance of vegetation (palm trees, bananas, ficus, cocoa trees, bamboos, evergreen trees and shrubs) and temperate forests grow in the Andes. Subarctic forests and tundra vegetation are characteristic of high altitudes and southern latitudes. It is believed that many important agricultural crops, such as tomatoes, potatoes, and tobacco, come from the Andes.
There are many unique species in the animal world of the Andes. Thus, the Andean camels llamas, alpacas, vigoni and guanacos are not found anywhere else in the world. The Andes are home to more than 900 species of amphibians, about 600 species of mammals and more than 1,700 species of birds. Among them there are many endemics.

general information

Andes, Andean Cordillera- the longest mountain system in the world, the southern part of the Cordillera.

Location: bordered to the north and west by the continent of South America

States in which the Andes are located: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina

Peoples inhabiting the Andes: Indians, Europeans, mestizos, African Americans, mulattoes, Asians

Languages: mainly Spanish, as well as Quechua, Aymara, Guarani and other Indian languages

Religion: Mainly Catholicism

Main seaports: Guayaquil (Ecuador), Valparaiso (Chile).

Major airports: Simon Bolivar International Airport (Caracas, Venezuela); Eldorado International Airport (Santa Fe de Bogota, Colombia), Mariscal Sucre International Airport (Quito, Ecuador), Jorge Chavez International Airport (Lima, Peru), El Alto International Airport (La Paz, Bolivia), Santiago International Airport (Chile).

The most important rivers: Orinoco, Marañon, Ucayali, Medeira, Pilcomayo, Bermejo, Parana, Rio Salado, Colorado, Rio Negro.

Largest lakes: Titicaca, Poopo.

Economy

The leading industry is mining: deposits of tungsten, silver, tin, and oil are being developed (Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Chile); copper (Chile), gold and emeralds (Colombia), iron (Bolivia).

Agriculture: bananas (Ecuador, Colombia), potatoes, coffee (Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador), corn, tobacco, wheat, sugar cane, olives, grapes; sheep breeding, fishing on large lakes.

Climate and weather

Due to the large extent of the Andes, there is a huge variety of climate here; this mountain system stretches across six climatic zones (equatorial, northern and southern subequatorial, southern tropical, subtropical and temperate).

Most of the precipitation (up to 820 mm per year) falls from May to November.

In the highlands of Quito, the temperature ranges between +13ºС... +15ºС, but the differences between day and night are great.

Precipitation (up to 1200 mm per year) - from September to May.

In La Paz, the average monthly temperature in November is about +1ºС, in July - about +7ºС.
In Chile, the average temperature in the north of the country is from +12ºС to +22ºС, in the south - from +3ºС to +16ºС.

Attractions

■ Lake Titicaca;
■ Lauca National Park;
■ Chiloe National Park;

■ Cape Horn National Park;
■ Santa Fe de Bogota: Catholic churches of the 16th-18th centuries, National Museum of Colombia;
■ Quito: Cathedral, Museum of Musical Instruments, Museum Del Banco Central;
■ Cusco: Cusco Cathedral, La Campanha Church, Haitun Rumiyoc Street (remains of Inca buildings);
■ Lima: archaeological zones of Huaca Huallamarca and Huaca Pucllana, archbishop's palace, church and monastery of San Francisco;
■ Archaeological complexes: Machu Picchu, Pachacamac, ruins of the city of Caral, Tambomachay, Pukapukara, Quenco, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, ruins of Pikilyakta.

Curious facts

■ The capital of Bolivia, La Paz, is the highest capital in the world. It is located at an altitude of 3600 m above sea level.
■ 200 km north of the city of Lima (Peru) are the ruins of the city of Caral - temples, amphitheaters, houses and pyramids. It is believed that Caral belonged to the oldest civilization in America and was built approximately 4000-4500 years ago. Archaeological excavations have shown that the city traded with large areas of the South American continent. It is especially interesting that archaeologists have not found any evidence of military conflicts for approximately a thousand years in the history of Caral.
■ One of the most mysterious historical monuments in the world is the monumental archaeological complex of Sacsayhuaman, located northwest of Cusco, at an altitude of approximately 3,700 meters above sea level. The fortress of the same name in this complex is attributed to the Inca civilization. However, it has not yet been possible to establish how the stones of these walls, weighing up to 200 tons and fitted to each other with pinpoint precision, were processed. Also, the ancient system of underground passages has not yet been fully explored.
■ The archaeological complex of Moray, located 74 kilometers from Cusco at an altitude of 3,500 meters, still arouses the admiration of not only archaeologists. Here, huge terraces, descending, form a kind of amphitheater. Research has shown that this structure was used by the Incas as an agricultural laboratory, since the different heights of the terraces made it possible to observe and experiment with plants in different climatic conditions. Here, different soils and a complex irrigation system were used; in total, the Incas grew 250 species of plants.

andes map, andes and cordillera




32°39′10″ S w. 70°00′40″ W. long / 32.65278° S w. 70.01111° W d. / -32.65278; -70.01111 (G) (O) (Z)Coordinates: 32°39′10″ S. w. 70°00′40″ W. long / 32.65278° S w. 70.01111° W d. / -32.65278; -70.01111 (G) (O) (I) (T)
Countries	Venezuela Venezuela Colombia Colombia Ecuador Ecuador Peru Peru Bolivia Bolivia Chile Chile Argentina Argentina
Length	9000 km
Width	500 km
highest peak	Aconcagua

on Wikimedia Commons

Andes, Andean Cordillera (Spanish: Andes; Cordillera de los Andes) - the longest (9000 km) and one of the highest (Mount Aconcagua, 6962 m) mountain systems on Earth, bordering all of South America from the north and west; southern part of the Cordillera. In some places, the Andes reach a width of over 500 km (the greatest width - up to 750 km - in the Central Andes, between 18° and 20° S). The average altitude is about 4000 m.

The Andes are a major interoceanic divide; To the east of the Andes flow the rivers of the Atlantic Ocean basin (the Amazon itself and many of its large tributaries, as well as the tributaries of the Orinoco, Paraguay, Parana, Magdalena River and Patagonia River originate in the Andes), to the west - the Pacific Ocean basin (mostly short ones).

The Andes serve as the most important climatic barrier in South America, isolating the territories to the west of the Main Cordillera from the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, and to the east from the influence of the Pacific Ocean. The mountains lie in 5 climatic zones (equatorial, subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate) and are distinguished (especially in the central part) by sharp contrasts in the moisture content of the eastern (leeward) and western (windward) slopes.

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

The Andes stretch across the territories of seven South American countries - Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

1 History of the name
- 1.1 Geological structure and relief
2 Orography
- 2.1 Northern Andes
- 2.2 Central Andes
- 2.3 Southern Andes
3 Climate
- 3.1 Northern Andes
- 3.2 Central Andes
- 3.3 Southern Andes
4 Vegetation and soils
5 Fauna
6 Ecology
7 Housekeeping
- 7.1 Industry
- 7.2 Agriculture
8 See also
9 Notes
10 Links
11 Literature

History of the name

Landform, Salta (Argentina).

According to the Italian historian Giovanni Anello Oliva (1631), the eastern ridge was originally called “Andes or Cordilleras” by European conquerors, while the western ridge was called “sierra”. The scientific consensus is that the name comes from the Quechua word anti (high ridge, ridge), although there are other opinions.

Geological structure and relief

The Andes are revived mountains, erected by new uplifts on the site of the so-called Andean (Cordilleran) folded geosynclinal belt; The Andes are one of the largest systems of alpine folding on the planet (on the Paleozoic and partly Baikal folded basement). The beginning of the formation of the Andes dates back to 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 granitoid intrusions of Cretaceous age. Intermountain and marginal troughs (Altiplano, Maracaibo, etc.) were formed in 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 plate, which contributes to the development of mountain building processes. The southernmost part of South America, Tierra del Fuego, is separated by a transform fault from the small Scotia plate. Beyond the Drake Passage, the Andes continue the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula.

The Andes are rich in ores of 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; There are large copper deposits on the territory of Chile. Foredeep and foothill troughs contain oil and gas (in the foothills of the Andes within Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina), and bauxite in the weathering crusts. The Andes also contain deposits of iron (in Bolivia), sodium nitrate (in Chile), gold, platinum and emeralds (in Colombia).

The Andes consist primarily of meridional parallel ridges: 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 internal plateaus and plateaus (Puna, Altiplano - in Bolivia and Peru) or depressions. The width of the mountain system is generally 200-300 km.

Orography

Northern Andes

Peak Bolivar in Venezuela

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 Andes, located within Venezuela and belonging to the Northern Andes, stretch 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 snow on the volcanic cones. The islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao in the Caribbean Sea represent the peaks of the extension of the Northern Andes that descend into the sea.

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

The Eastern Cordillera has its highest altitude in its northeastern part (Mount Ritakuva, 5493 m); in the center of the Eastern Cordillera - an ancient lake plateau (predominant heights - 2.5 - 2.7 thousand m); The Eastern Cordillera is generally characterized by large planation surfaces. in the highlands there are glaciers. In the north, the Eastern Cordillera is continued by the Cordillera de Merida (highest point - Mount Bolivar, 5007 m) and 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 there is the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta horst massif with altitudes up to 5800 m (Mount Cristobal Colon)

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

As part of the Equatorial (Ecuadorian) Andes, reaching up to 4° S, there are two Cordilleras (Western and Eastern), separated by depressions 2500-2700 m high. Along the faults that limit these depressions (depressions) there is one of the highest volcanic volcanoes in the world 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

El Misti Volcano in Peru

In the Central Andes (up to 28° S) the Peruvian Andes (extending south to 14°30 S) and the Central Andes proper are distinguished. 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 upper Amazon system), parallel ridges (Eastern, Central and Western Cordillera) and a system of deep longitudinal and transverse canyons were formed, dismembering the ancient surface of the alignment. The peaks of the Cordillera of the Peruvian Andes exceed 6000 m (the highest point is Mount Huascaran, 6768 m); in the Cordillera Blanca - modern glaciation. Alpine landforms are also developed on the blocky ridges of the Cordillera Vilcanota, Cordillera de Vilcabamba, and Cordillera de Carabaya.

Glacial Lake Palcacocha

To the south is the widest part of the Andes - the Central Andean Highlands (width up to 750 km), where arid geomorphological processes predominate; a significant part of the highland is occupied by the Puna plateau with altitudes of 3.7 - 4.1 thousand m. Puna is characterized by drainage basins (“bolsons”) occupied by lakes (Titicaca, Poopo, etc.) and salt marshes (Atacama, Coipasa, Uyuni, etc. .). East of Puna is the Cordillera Real (Ankouma Peak, 6550 m) with thick 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 in the world. To the east of the Cordillera Real are the sub-Andean folded ridges of the Eastern Cordillera, reaching up to 23° S. latitude. The southern continuation of the Cordillera Real is the Cordillera Central, as well as several blocky massifs (the highest point is Mount El Libertador, 6720 m). From the west, Puna is framed by the Western Cordillera with intrusive peaks and numerous volcanic peaks (Sajama, 6780 m; Llullaillaco, 6739 m; San Pedro, 6145 m; Misti, 5821 m; etc.), included in the second volcanic region of the Andes. South of 19° S. The western slopes of the Western Cordillera face the tectonic depression of the Longitudinal Valley, occupied in the south by the Atacama Desert. Behind the Longitudinal Valley is the low (up to 1500 m) intrusive Coastal Cordillera, which is characterized by arid sculptural landforms.

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

Southern Andes

Andes near the border of Argentina and Chile

In the Southern Andes, extending south of 28° S, two parts are distinguished - northern (Chilean-Argentine or Subtropical Andes) and southern (Patagonian Andes). The Chilean-Argentine Andes, narrowing to the south and reaching 39°41 S, have a clearly defined three-member structure - the Coastal Cordillera, the Longitudinal Valley and the Main Cordillera; within the latter, in the Cordillera Frontal, there is the highest peak of the Andes, Mount Aconcagua (6960 m), as well as the large peaks of Tupungato (6800 m), Mercedario (6770 m). The snow line here is very high (at 32°40 S - 6000 m). To the east of the Cordillera Frontal are the ancient Precordilleras.

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

When moving south, the snow line gradually decreases and at 51° S. latitude. reaches 1460 m. High ridges acquire features of the Alpine type, the area of modern glaciation increases, and 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 strongly 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 (called the Andes of Tierra del Fuego) sharply deviate 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 latitude glaciers drop to ocean level), glacial landforms predominate (at 48° S latitude - 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 coasts, 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 belt of the northern hemisphere; here, as in the subequatorial zone of the southern hemisphere, there is an alternation of wet and dry seasons; Precipitation falls from May to November, but in the most northern regions the wet season is shorter. The eastern slopes are moistened much more than the western ones; Precipitation (up to 1000 mm per year) falls mainly in summer. The Caribbean Andes, located on the border of the tropical and subequatorial zones, are dominated by tropical air all year round; there is little rainfall (often less than 500 mm per year); The rivers are short with characteristic summer floods.

In the equatorial belt, seasonal variations are practically absent; Thus, in the capital of Ecuador, Quito, the change in average monthly temperatures over the year is only 0.4 °C. Precipitation is abundant (up to 10,000 mm per year, although usually 2500-7000 mm per year) and is distributed more evenly along the slopes than in the subequatorial belt. Altitudinal zonation is clearly expressed. the lower part of the mountains has a hot and humid climate, precipitation falls almost daily; in the depressions there are numerous swamps. With altitude, the amount of precipitation decreases, but 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. There are already large daily temperature fluctuations here (up to 20 °C), the weather can change dramatically during the day. At altitudes of 3500-3800 m, daily temperatures fluctuate around 10 °C. Higher up there is 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 there is eternal snow.

Central Andes

In the Atacama Desert

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

At low altitudes, with very little rain, there is significant (up to 80%) air humidity, which is why fog and dew 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 softening 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 amount of precipitation (3000 - 6000 mm per year) (brought mainly in the summer by easterly winds), a dense river network. Along the valleys, air masses from the Atlantic Ocean cross the Eastern Cordillera, moistening its western slope. 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, annual precipitation amounts on the western slopes increase rapidly. Summer is dry, winter is wet. As you move away from the ocean, the climate becomes more continental 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 month is 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 there is more precipitation than in the Longitudinal Valley (but less than on the Pacific coast).

On the coast of Tierra del Fuego

When moving south, the subtropical climate of the western slopes smoothly transforms into the oceanic climate of temperate latitudes: annual precipitation amounts increase, and differences in moisture between seasons decrease. Strong westerly winds bring large amounts of precipitation to the coast (up to 6000 mm per year, although usually 2000-3000 mm). It rains heavily for more than 200 days a year, thick fog often falls on the coast, and the sea is constantly stormy; the climate is unfavorable for living. The eastern slopes (between 28° and 38° S) are drier than the western ones (and only in the 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 month is 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 westerly and southwesterly winds; Precipitation (up to 3000 mm) falls mainly in the form of drizzle (which occurs most days of the year). Only in the easternmost part of the archipelago is there much less precipitation. Temperatures are low throughout the year (temperature fluctuations between seasons are extremely small).

Vegetation and soils

Coca

In the Andes of Venezuela, deciduous (during winter drought) forests and shrubs grow on mountain red soils. The lower parts of the windward slopes from the Northwestern Andes to the Central Andes are covered with montane moist equatorial and tropical forests on lateritic soils (montane hylaea), as well as mixed forests of evergreen and deciduous species. The appearance of equatorial forests differs little from the appearance of these forests in the flat part of the continent; Characteristic are various palm trees, ficus trees, bananas, cocoa trees, etc. Higher (up to altitudes of 2500-3000 m) the nature of the vegetation changes; typical are bamboos, tree ferns, coca bush (which is a source of cocaine), and cinchona. Between 3000 m and 3800 m - high-mountain hylea with low-growing trees and shrubs; Epiphytes and lianas are widespread, bamboos, tree ferns, evergreen oaks, myrtaceae, and heathers are typical. Higher up there is predominantly xerophytic vegetation, paramos, with numerous Asteraceae; moss swamps on flat areas and lifeless rocky areas on steep slopes. Above 4500 m there is a belt of eternal snow and ice.

To the south, in the subtropical Chilean Andes - evergreen shrubs on brown soils. The longitudinal valley has soils similar in composition to chernozems. Vegetation of the high mountain plateaus: in the north - mountain equatorial meadows of paramos, in the Peruvian Andes and in the east of Puna - dry high-mountain tropical steppes of the halka, in the west of Puna and throughout the Pacific west between 5-28 ° south latitude - desert types of vegetation (in the Atacama Desert - succulent vegetation and cacti). Many surfaces are saline, which prevents the development of vegetation; In such areas, mainly wormwood and ephedra are found. Above 3000 m (up to about 4500 m) there is semi-desert vegetation called dry puna; Dwarf shrubs (tholoi), grasses (feather grass, reed grass), lichens, and cacti grow. To the east of the Main Cordillera, where there is more precipitation, there is steppe vegetation (puna) with numerous grasses (fescue, feather grass, reed grass) and cushion-shaped shrubs. On the humid slopes of the Eastern Cordillera, tropical forests (palm trees, cinchona) rise to 1500 m, low-growing evergreen forests with a predominance of bamboo, ferns, and lianas reach 3000 m; at higher altitudes there are high-mountain steppes. A typical inhabitant of the Andean highlands is polylepis, a plant of the Rosaceae family, common in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Chile; these trees are also found at an altitude of 4500 m.

Araucaria

The Andes are the birthplace of cinchona, coca, tobacco, potatoes, tomatoes and other valuable plants.

Animal world

Pudu deer - endemic to the Andes

The fauna of the northern Andes is part of the Brazilian zoogeographic region and is similar to the fauna of the adjacent plains. The fauna of the Andes south of 5° south latitude belongs to the Chilean-Patagonian subregion. The Andean fauna in general is characterized by an abundance of endemic genera and species. The Andes are inhabited by llamas and alpacas (representatives of these two species are used by the local population for wool and meat, and also as pack animals), prehensile-tailed monkeys, relict spectacled bear, pudú and gaemal deer (which are endemic to the Andes), vicuña, guanaco, Azar's fox, sloths, chinchillas, opossums, anteaters, degu rodents. In the south - the blue fox, the Magellanic dog, the endemic rodent tuco-tuco, etc. There are many birds, among them hummingbirds, which are also found at altitudes above 4000 m, but are especially numerous and diverse in the “foggy forests” (tropical rainforests of Colombia, Ecuador , Peru, Bolivia and the extreme north-west of Argentina, located in the fog condensation zone); endemic condor, rising to a height of up to 7 thousand m; and others. Some species (such as chinchillas, which were intensively exterminated in the 19th - early 20th centuries for the sake of their skins; wingless grebes and the Titicaca whistler, found only near Lake Titicaca; etc.) are under threat of extinction.

Ecology

Due to a number of environmental problems, many species of animals and plants in the Andes are in danger of extinction.

Farm

Industry

One of the most significant economic sectors in the Andes is the mining industry. Deposits of copper (in Chile), iron (in Bolivia), gold (in Colombia, etc.), emeralds (in Colombia), tungsten, tin, silver, oil (in marginal troughs and intermountain depressions of Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, Peru) are being developed and etc.). See also the section “Geological structure and relief”.

Agriculture

Agriculture has also been developed, specializing in the cultivation of coffee (in Colombia (up to 13% of the world harvest), Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru), bananas (in Colubia, Ecuador), potatoes, and barley. Caribbean Andes - growing cotton, tobacco, sisal. in the equatorial belt, tobacco, coffee, and corn are cultivated at medium altitudes; At high altitudes (up to 3800 m), corn, wheat, potatoes are grown, as well as the quinoa plant, which is an important part of the diet of the local Indian population. On the well-moistened slopes of the Eastern Cordillera (within the Central Andes), sugar cane, cocoa, coffee and tropical fruits are grown. Many crops cultivated in Chile were imported from Europe - olives, grapes, citrus trees; There is wheat and corn in the fields. Due to the significant steepness of the slopes, crop production is carried out on terraces.

The main area of livestock farming is sheep breeding (in the highlands of Peru, Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, etc.). The mountain Indian population (Quechua) raises llamas. Fishing is developed on large lakes (especially Lake Titicaca).

Notes

Strictly speaking, the longest mountain system on Earth is the Mid-Ocean Ridge, which is a network of ridges with a total length of about 80,000 km. However, the Guinness Book of Records lists the Mid-Ocean Ridge as the largest mountain system on Earth, while the Andes are the longest mountain range. See relevant entries, as well as wwww.rgo.ru/geography/fiz_geography/uamerika/andqqq1
The Andes are the highest mountain system on Earth outside of Asia; The highest mountain system on our planet is the Himalayas. See www.igras.ru/index.php?r=41&id=153
See wwww.rgo.ru/geography/fiz_geography/uamerika/andqqq1
Juan Anello Oliva, HISTORIA DEL REINO Y PROVINCIAS DEL PERÚ. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012.
Actually, the word “Cordillera” itself comes from the Spanish cordillera - “mountain range”
Tropical Andes Nature of the tropical Andes (English)

Literature

E. N. Lukashova, South America, M, 1958;
Latin America, Encyclopedic reference book, vol. 1, M, 1980.

Andes, Andes Wikipedia, Andes mountains, Andes and cordillera, Andes map, Andes on the map, Andes photo, Andyn Nuruu, Andyrtail, Andyshkan Abysyndar

Andes Information About

Or the South American Cordillera, a mountain system stretching in a narrow strip on the western edge. The Andes ridges, when crossing each other, form peculiar nodes with the highest peaks. There are many active and extinct ones here.

Andes

The Andes consist of meridionally extending ridges. Due to the enormous extent from north to south, the Andes are located in several. Altitudinal zonation is clearly visible in the mountains. The sequence of changes in altitudinal zones depends on the position of the foothills of the Andes in a particular natural zone, as well as on the height, width and direction of the slopes of the ridges. Many intermountain valleys and slopes have long been inhabited and developed by humans. The highest mountain cities in the world are located here - (3690 m), Sucre (2694 m).

Northern Andes

They consist of several ridges separated by deep troughs. There are more than 30 active and many extinct volcanoes, among which the most famous are Cotopaxi and Chimborazo.

Most of the population of the Northern Andes lives in the altitudinal zone of tropical moist mountain forests at an altitude of 1 to 3 km, where average monthly temperatures (+16 - +22°C) are lower than on the neighboring plains. Here, at an altitude of more than 2500 m, are the cities of Santa Fe de Bogota and. Coffee, corn, and tobacco are grown on the gentle mountain slopes.

Central tropical Andes

The widest part of the mountain system. There are internal high plateaus bordered on the east and west by mountain ranges.

The plateaus have long been inhabited by Indian tribes. On one of them there is an ancient city - the capital of the Inca state. The Western Cordillera is home to large active volcanoes, including Llullallaco, 6,723 m high.

In the southern part of the Central Andes, the Coastal Cordillera is separated from the Western Cordillera by a narrow depression. It stretches for 1000 km. One of the driest depressions, the Atacama, is located in this depression. Here less than 100 mm of precipitation falls per year, and heavy rains occur 2-4 times every 100 years. Atacama is much colder than other areas located at the same latitude: average annual temperatures are well below +20°C.

Southern Andes

Two ridges are well defined in the relief: the Main Cordillera with the peak of Aconcagua and the Coastal Cordillera. Between 33 and 55 °S. The third volcanic region of the Andes is located.

The slopes of mountain ranges in the subtropical zone up to an altitude of 2.5 km were once covered with heat-loving forests. Currently, almost all of them have been cut down and wherever the steepness of the slopes allows, subtropical crops are grown: olive trees, grapes, citrus fruits. The western slopes of the Andes in the temperate zone are covered with moisture-loving forests of beeches, magnolias, conifers, bamboo, ferns and vines.

Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina Length 8000 km Width 500 km highest peak Aconcagua Andes on Wikimedia Commons

Andes, Andean Cordillera(Spanish) Andes; Cordillera de los Andes ) - the longest (9000 km) and one of the highest (Mount Aconcagua, 6962 m) mountain systems on Earth, bordering all of South America from the north and west; southern part of the Cordillera. In some places, the Andes reach a width of over 500 km (the greatest width - up to 750 km - in the Central Andes, between 18° and 20° S). The average altitude is about 4000 m.

The Andes stretch across the territories of seven South American countries - Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

History of the name

According to the Italian historian Giovanni Anello Oliva (g.), initially by European conquerors “ Andes or Cordilleras" ("Andes, o cordilleras") was called the eastern ridge, while the western one was called " Sierra"("sierra").

Geological structure and relief

The Andes are reborn mountains, erected by new uplifts on the site of the so-called Andean (Cordilleran) folded geosynclinal belt; The Andes are one of the largest systems of alpine folding on the planet (on the Paleozoic and partly Baikal folded basement). The beginning of the formation of the Andes dates back to 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 granitoid intrusions of Cretaceous age. Intermountain and regional troughs (Altiplano, Maracaibo, etc.) were formed in 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 plate, which contributes to the development of mountain building processes. The southernmost part of South America, Tierra del Fuego, is separated by a transform fault from the small Scotia plate. Beyond the Drake Passage, the Andes continue the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula.

The Andes are rich in ores of 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; There are large copper deposits on the territory of Chile. There is oil and gas in the foredeep and foothill troughs (in the foothills of the Andes within Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina), and bauxite in the weathering crusts. The Andes also contain deposits of iron (in Bolivia), sodium nitrate (in Chile), gold, platinum and emeralds (in Colombia).

Orography

Northern Andes

The main system of the Andes (Andean Cordillera) consists of parallel ridges stretching in the meridional direction, separated by internal plateaus or depressions. Only the Caribbean Andes, located within Venezuela and belonging to the Northern Andes, stretch 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 snow on the volcanic cones. The islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao in the Caribbean Sea represent the peaks of the extension of the Northern Andes that descend into the sea.

The Eastern Cordillera has its highest altitude in its northeastern part (Mount Ritakuva, 5493 m); in the center of the Eastern Cordillera - an ancient lake plateau (predominant heights - 2.5 - 2.7 thousand m); The Eastern Cordillera is generally characterized by large planation surfaces. In the highlands there are glaciers. In the north, the Eastern Cordillera is continued by the Cordillera de Merida (highest point - Mount Bolivar, 5007 m) and 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 there is the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta horst massif with altitudes up to 5800 m (Mount Cristobal Colon)

Central Andes

In the Central Andes (up to 28° S) the Peruvian Andes (extending south to 14°30 S) and the Central Andes proper are distinguished. 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 upper Amazon system), parallel ridges (Eastern, Central and Western Cordillera) and a system of deep longitudinal and transverse canyons were formed, dismembering the ancient alignment surface . The peaks of the Cordillera of the Peruvian Andes exceed 6000 m (the highest point is Mount Huascaran, 6768 m); in the Cordillera Blanca - modern glaciation. Alpine landforms are also developed on the blocky ridges of the Cordillera Vilcanota, Cordillera de Vilcabamba, and Cordillera de Carabaya.

To the south is the widest part of the Andes - the Central Andean Highlands (width up to 750 km), where arid geomorphological processes predominate; A significant part of the highland is occupied by the Puna plateau with altitudes of 3.7 - 4.1 thousand m. Puna is characterized by drainage basins (“bolsons”) occupied by lakes (Titicaca, Poopo, etc.) and salt marshes (Atacama, Coipasa, Uyuni, etc. .). East of Puna is the Cordillera Real (Ankouma Peak, 6550 m) with thick 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 in the world. To the east of the Cordillera Real are the sub-Andean folded ridges of the Eastern Cordillera, reaching up to 23° S. latitude. The southern continuation of the Cordillera Real is the Cordillera Central, as well as several blocky massifs (the highest point is Mount El Libertador, 6720 m). From the west, Puna is framed by the Western Cordillera with intrusive peaks and numerous volcanic peaks (Sajama, 6780 m; Llullaillaco, 6723 m; San Pedro, 6159 m; Misti, 5821 m; etc.), included in the second volcanic region of the Andes. South of 19° S. the western slopes of the Western Cordillera face the tectonic depression of the Longitudinal Valley, occupied in the south by the Atacama Desert. Behind the Longitudinal Valley is the low (up to 1500 m) intrusive Coastal Cordillera, which is characterized by arid sculptural landforms.

Southern Andes

The Andes near the border of Argentina and Chile.

In the Southern Andes, extending south of 28° S, two parts are distinguished - northern (Chilean-Argentine or Subtropical Andes) and southern (Patagonian Andes). In the Chilean-Argentine Andes, narrowing to the south and reaching 39°41 S, a three-member structure is clearly expressed - the Coastal Cordillera, the Longitudinal Valley and the Main Cordillera; within the latter, in the Cordillera Frontal, there is the highest peak of the Andes, Mount Aconcagua (6960 m), as well as the large peaks of Tupungato (6800 m), Mercedario (6770 m). The snow line here is very high (at 32°40 S - 6000 m). To the east of the Cordillera Frontal are the ancient Precordilleras.

When moving south, the snow line gradually decreases and at 51° S. latitude. reaches 1460 m. High ridges acquire features of the Alpine type, the area of modern glaciation increases, and 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 strongly 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 (called the Andes of Tierra del Fuego) sharply deviate 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 latitude glaciers descend to ocean level), glacial landforms predominate (at 48° S latitude - 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 coasts, 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 belt of the northern hemisphere; here, as in the subequatorial zone of the southern hemisphere, there is an alternation of wet and dry seasons; Precipitation falls from May to November, but in the most northern regions the wet season is shorter. The eastern slopes are moistened much more 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 rainfall (often less than 500 mm per year); The rivers are short with characteristic summer floods.

In the equatorial belt, seasonal variations are practically absent; Thus, in the capital of Ecuador, Quito, the change in average monthly temperatures over the year is only 0.4 °C. Precipitation is abundant (up to 10,000 mm per year, although usually 2500-7000 mm per year) and is distributed more evenly along the slopes than in the subequatorial belt. Altitudinal zonation is clearly expressed. In the lower part of the mountains there is a hot and humid climate, precipitation falls almost daily; in the depressions there are numerous swamps. With altitude, the amount of precipitation decreases, but 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. There are already large daily temperature fluctuations here (up to 20 °C), the weather can change dramatically during the day. At altitudes of 3500-3800 m, daily temperatures fluctuate around 10 °C. Higher up there is 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 there is eternal snow.

Central Andes

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, annual precipitation amounts on the western slopes increase rapidly. Summer is dry, winter is wet. As you move away from the ocean, the climate becomes more continental 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 month is 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 there is more precipitation than in the Longitudinal Valley (but less than on the Pacific coast).

In the extreme southern part of the Andes, Tierra del Fuego, there is a very humid climate, which is formed by strong, humid westerly and southwesterly winds; Precipitation (up to 3000 mm) falls mainly in the form of drizzle (which occurs most days of the year). Only in the easternmost part of the archipelago is there much less precipitation. Temperatures are low throughout the year (with very little temperature variation between seasons).

Andes mountains - information, photos, descriptions, facts. Cordillera: "Grand Mountain Ranges"

Vegetation and soils

Animal world

Ecology

Attractions

Inca Empire

The longest mountain system

Nature

general information

Economy

Climate and weather

Attractions

Curious facts

History of the name

Geological structure and relief

Orography

Northern Andes

Central Andes

Southern Andes

Climate

Northern Andes

Central Andes

Southern Andes

Vegetation and soils

Animal world

Ecology

Farm

Industry

Agriculture

see also

Notes

Links

Literature

Andes Information About

Andes

Northern Andes

Central tropical Andes

Southern Andes

History of the name

Geological structure and relief

Orography

Northern Andes

Central Andes

Southern Andes

Climate

Northern Andes

Central Andes

Southern Andes

Vegetation and soils