One of the best known mountain systems in the world is the Andes mountains. It is found in South America and is considered the longest mountain range and the second highest in the world after the Himalayas. The origin of the name of this mountain range is not too clear since it is possible that it has arisen by several possibilities. One possibility is that andes comes from the word anti from Quechua what means "raised crest." Others think that it derives from the name Antisuyo which is one of the 4 regions of the Inca empire.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics of the Andes mountain range and the importance it has according to its biodiversity and natural resources.
Key features
It is a mountain range that is parallel to the coast and sits on a region with high seismic and volcanic activity. This seismic and volcanic activity is the cause of it having geological instability and having such high peaks. It is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Despite having these instabilities due to its large area, it has the lowest concentration of oxygen due to its altitude. Despite this, it has several native peoples found throughout this region that have adapted to both relief and altitude. In addition, this phenomenon is related to the low oxygen concentration height.
The Inca Empire is one of the most famous peoples who inhabited the Andes during pre-Hispanic times. Their iconic city of Machu Picchu was built here, more than 2400 meters above sea level. The total length of this mountain range is approximately 7.000 kilometers. It is between 200 and 700 kilometers wide, depending on the area where we are. The maximum elevation of the peaks that this mountain range has is 6962 meters. Its maximum elevation is Aconcagua, which is an example of the majesty of the .
To locate this mountain range, we must travel to the western region of South America, stretching from the Caribbean coast to the southern tip of the continent. It crosses a total of seven countries, including Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina.
Highest peaks
The highest peaks in the Andes mountain range are found in Peru, Argentina, and Ecuador. The rest of the peaks that are lower are found at the extreme north and south. The mountain range is composed of several mountains and volcanoes among which is the well-known Aconcagua and others such as the following: Nevado Ojos del Salado, Huascarán, Chimborazo, Nevado del Ruiz, Galeras and Bonete.
Some of the most active volcanoes on our planet are located in this mountain range. In total, it is estimated that there are around 183 active volcanoes that are the subject of geological studies. This presence of seismic and volcanic activity results in some hot springs and other mineral deposits of great economic interest. This includes volcanoes in the United States that are threatened and in key locations, similar to the activity of the Andes mountain range, which can be explored in more detail in the article on volcanoes in the United States.
Division of the Andes mountain range
The entire mountain range can be divided into three sections. The first is located in the northern region, encompassing Venezuela and Colombia. The second part is considered one of the central Andes and corresponds to the cities of Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. Finally, the third part of the mountain range is known as the southern Andes and corresponds to the cities of Chile and Argentina.
This division serves to establish a kind of natural border between the different countries that coexist with this mountain range. It also serves to separate some of the regions within the countries themselves. Although the mountains are mostly located within the tropics, there are high peaks that, due to their height, they are covered with snow for most of the year and, as a result, are home to glaciers. The presence of glaciers is also a matter of concern due to its link to climate change, as has been observed in the melting of glaciers in PeruThis phenomenon related to global warming affects biodiversity in the .
These glaciers are the ones that are threatening sea level rise due to global warming. Much of this territory has arid conditions, especially in the eastern part. However, if you go to the western part, you will find a more abundant rainfall pattern, a contrast that can be observed in different parts of the world. mountain ranges in the world.
It has a fairly rugged terrain due to this continuous seismic activity. In the Andean region, we can find several plateaus at considerable altitude, where some of the most important South American cities are located, such as La Paz, Quito, and Bogotá. This plateau is the second largest in the world, emerging between Bolivia and Peru. It is located at an altitude of more than 3.600 meters above sea level.
Origin of the Andes mountain range
This orogeny comes from the Tertiary era of the Mesozoic. They are located over a tectonically active region and earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent events. Having a continuous seismic activity over time and having too pronounced peaks, this mountain range is considered geologically young.
It is thought that its formation had its origin after the fragmentation of the Pangea and that, during the time of the dinosaurs, the entire region was occupied by a large lake or an inland sea. After the breakup of the Pangea, the tectonic plates have continued to move during the course of all the years of the Jurassic period until, during the Cenozoic, the Nazca plate and the Antarctic plate moved underneath the South American plate.
This plate shift triggered the creation of a subduction zone, and the plates began to collide. This exerted a force that compressed the crust, resulting in intense earthquakes that forced the crust to be pushed upward and folded, forming the ridges that have become mountains. These mountains have been rising over the past 100 million years. especially with greater activity during the Cretaceous and Tertiary.
Flora and fauna
Being so vast, there is a wide variety of climates and environments. Having all these climates brings with it a vast array of diverse flora and fauna. There are regions where only a few living beings can live, but in the rest, thousands of species coexist. The biodiversity of the mountain range is essential to understanding its ecology, which is related to the climate change and its impact on ecosystems.
Among the most outstanding fauna we find the giant frogs from Lake Titicaca, Andean cock-of-the-rocks, llamas, pumas, hummingbirds and opossums, Among others. As for flora, dry forests and tropical rainforests stand out. The vegetation is somewhat sparser, with the presence of grasses.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Andes mountain range.