Andes

The Andes is a mountain range along the western coast of South America, extending from northern Venezuela to the southern regions of Chile and Argentina. It is the longest mountain range on Earth and passes through seven countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.

The highest peak in the Andes is Aconcagua, located in Argentina, which is the highest point in the Western Hemisphere outside Asia. The Andes also contain many volcanic mountains, some of which remain active, particularly in Ecuador and Chile.

Geological formation

The Andes resulted from the collision of tectonic plates. The oceanic plate of the southeastern Pacific, particularly the Nazca plate, moves beneath the South American plate in a process known as subduction. This has caused the uplift of land, the formation of volcanoes, and recurring earthquakes that affect coastal cities.

Climate and environment

Because of the range's length, climate varies significantly. The north has tropical and subtropical rainforests; the central region contains the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth; the south has ice and glaciers. Between Peru and Bolivia lies a high plateau called the Altiplano, where Lake Titicaca is located.

People and history

The Andes was the site of early civilizations. The Inca empire, centered in Cusco in Peru, governed a large portion of the Andes until the sixteenth century when Spanish conquest took place. Large populations still speak Quechua and Aymara. Terrace farming, herding, and the raising of llamas and alpacas form the foundation of highland livelihoods.

Economy

Mining is central to the Andes economy: copper from Chile and Peru, silver, gold, and lithium from deposits in the central highlands. Agriculture, fishing, and hydroelectric power are also important.