Andes mountains. See what "Andes" is in other dictionaries

The Andes Mountains are a unique mountain system stretching across almost the entire territory South America. The Andes Mountains are the longest mountain system, its length is 9 thousand km. and also one of the highest, but still not the highest, but this is for now, because the mountains still continue to grow. Let's look at famous mountains Andes. ( 11 photos)

The Andes mountains completely, from the north and from the west, circled South America, located both along the coastline Atlantic Ocean. The Andes Mountains are relatively young; the history of their origin dates back to the Jurassic period. The Andes Mountains are one of the largest mountain systems formed during the last major epoch of the Earth's geological history.

As a result of the collision of three lithospheric plates, the Nazca, Antarctic and South American, the first two sank under the larger South American, even in the history of the formation of mountains we see a distinctive feature, usually the origin is the collision of no more than two plates. Surprisingly, seismic activity in the Andean pores continues to be traced to this day, that is, the mountains are actively growing. And their growth is more intense than all other mountain systems, which one way or another are increasing in size.

Thus, in a year the Andes grow by more than 10 cm, who knows, perhaps soon they will become the highest mountains in the world, but for now the leading position is occupied by. A height of the Andes mountains is 6962 meters, the peak of the Andes mountains is a peak called Aconcagua. The average width of the mountains is 400 km, the widest point reaches 750 km. The Andes Mountains are conventionally divided into three zones: Northern, Central and Southern Andes.

Among all the other advantages of such impressive mountains, one more thing can be attributed: the Andes mountains are a line of conventional division; they separate water collections. The Andes are also the source of many large rivers and lakes, it is here that the famous river takes its source, which then spreads over hundreds of kilometers. The Andes mountains have their small lakes located right between the slopes, which either dry up or refill, depending on the time of year and precipitation. Andes Mountains coordinates 32°39′10″ S w. 70°00′40″ W. d. (G) (O) (I)32°39′10″ S w. 70°00′40″ W. d.

Due to different climatic conditions in which the Andes are located, the mountains have unequal and dissimilar structures. So in the northern part of the Andes there are a large number of volcanoes, some of them are considered to be still active, and the central part is characterized by the sources of many rivers, the southern part of the Andes is characterized by low peaks and large glacial massifs, spread over almost most of this mountain system, the ice begins here already from a height of 1,400 meters.

Due to its impressive size, the Andes are located in 5 climatic zones simultaneously: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate. The Andes also penetrate 7 countries of South America; the Andes are located on the territory of: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Moreover, each country is proud of the location of one or another section of mountains on its territory.

Moreover, the Andes Mountains are also a rich reserve of various natural resources; in the Andes there are large deposits of non-ferrous metals: tin, lead, copper, zinc, etc. Active mining of iron and sodium nitrate is also carried out here, but gold deposits are of particular importance , silver, platinum and in some places precious stones (emeralds). The Andes also store oil and gas reserves. In general, the Andes are a real natural treasure trove for.

Today, in times active tourism When everyone can visit any corner of the planet if they wish, climbing the Andes is becoming widely popular. In some countries where the Andes are located, there are specialized centers that will prepare and guide you to admire the majestic slopes of the mountains. Of course, you won’t rise to a height of 6 km, but I think you don’t need such an unearthly height. To enjoy all the delights of the picturesque view, 1.5 km will be enough. It cannot be said that the Andes are particularly difficult to climb; some areas can be climbed without special climbing equipment.

Who would have thought that ingredients could be grown in the mountains? Agriculture. Today on low altitudes mountains, up to 3.8 km. The following crops are actively grown and produced: coffee, tobacco, cotton, corn, wheat, potatoes, etc. Practice shows that on the moist and nutritious lands of the Andes, plants feel no worse than on the dry soil of the plains.

Throughout human history, people have associated mountains with something supernatural and powerful. Many writers have used mountains as inspiration. The Andes Mountains are a unique creation of nature, which is already known throughout the world, and to which thousands of tourists flock. We advise you to look at this miracle of nature. Stay tuned and enjoy your travels.

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

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

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Andes - this is the definition

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

The Andes are mountains that serve as the most important climatic barrier, 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 Andes are 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 the moisture content of the eastern (leeward) and western (windward) slopes.

The Andes are revived mountains, erected by recent 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 Andes are the longest mountain range in the world, it is still growing.

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

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

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

Geography of the Andes

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 triasetrogs that were formed and 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 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 to this day. 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 processes of mountain building.

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 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; There are large copper deposits in Chile. In the foredeep and foothill troughs there is oil and gas (in the foothills of the Andes within Argentina), and in the weathering crusts there is bauxite.

The volcano was conquered in 1937 by Polish climbers Justin Wojżnys and Jan Szczepanski. On the way to the summit, which only experienced climbers can reach, researchers discovered 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 highest volcano on the planet, Ojos del Salado

Summit of Monte Pissis (height 6793 m)

Monte Pissis is an extinct volcano in the province of La Rioja, Argentina, located approximately 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 Ościecki and Jan Szczepanski on February 7, 1937.

Monte Pissis

Mount Huascaran (height 6768 m)

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

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

On December 13, 1941, a burst of Lake Palcochocha caused a mudflow that destroyed the city of Huaraz, killing 5,000 people. On January 10, 1962, a glacier that fell from Mount Huascaran generated a mudflow with a volume of 13 million cubic meters, which killed 4,000 people.

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

Summit 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), which makes it the fifth highest mountain in America (after Aconcagua, Ojos del Salado, Monte Pissis and Huascaran).

Cerro Bonete

Summit of Mercedario (height 6720 m)

Mercedario is the highest peak of the Cordillera de la Ramada (English)Russian. and the eighth highest mountain in 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 Karpinski and Viktor Ostrovski, members of a Polish expedition.

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

Nevado Tres Cruces is a volcanic massif in South America, belonging to the Andes mountain range, located on the border of Argentina and Chile. It is eight to twelve kilometers long 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. The mountain is named after national park Nevado Tres Cruces in Chile.

Volcano Llullaillaco (height 6739 m)

Llullaillaco is an active volcano in the Western Cordillera range of the Peruvian Andes, on the border of Chile and Argentina. Located in an area 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, a relative height of almost 2.5 km. At the top there is eternal glaciation. The last explosive eruption dates back to 1877; currently the volcano is in the solfataric stage. Llullaillaco is the tallest 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 north-west of the country 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

The modern population of the interior plateaus of the Andes consists mainly of Quechua Indians, whose ancestors formed the basis of the Inca state. The Quechua practice irrigated agriculture and domesticate and breed llamas.

On the shores of Lake Titicaca live the Aymara people, who fish and make various products from the reeds that grow along the low shores of the lake.

Parks in the Andes

They found traces of the cultivation of peanuts, pumpkins, and other crops in the Andes. These plants do not grow wild near their location, and therefore were domesticated elsewhere. The development of agriculture indicates the settled life of ancient people, their transition from primitive communal methods of food production, less dependence on nature, as well as 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. Thursday morning passenger bus for unknown reasons, he left the road in the Peruvian Andes and fell into a gorge. Only eight people, who were seriously injured, were saved. Rescuers found the rest already dead.

IN terrible accident 42 people died in the south of the Republic of Peru

“The bus is completely destroyed 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, together with local residents, helped the victims.

A bus fell off a cliff in Peru

"Miracle in the Andes" involving cannibalism

On October 13, 1972, a plane carrying a junior rugby team from Montevideo crashed in the Andes. On the eleventh day, they heard that rescuers from three countries had stopped searching for them. 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 12. It was chartered flight, for which Uruguayan junior rugby players, as well as 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 us to fly directly to Santiago, so we were taken to another Chilean city - Curico. Having passed it, the pilots received the air traffic controller's command to descend to 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 found itself directly in front of the mountainside. Despite all the efforts of the pilots, they were unable to avoid the collision. The car, having struck the mountain, lost its tail and wings, and then the fuselage rushed at breakneck speed along the slope and crashed into a huge snowdrift. During the crash, 12 people out of 45 flying died, five more were missing.

The next day they will be found dead. A day later, another plane crash victim dies. Two weeks later, the survivors will be covered by an avalanche, and eight more passengers will be lost. Three would 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 blended in with the snow, which made the search difficult. On the ninth day the search was stopped. When the first shock passed, the surviving passengers began to inspect the 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 over the metal parts of the collapsed plane. No one had warm clothes. That's why they slept leaning against each other.

When the food ran out, the question arose of what to do next. Considering 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 the rugby players to become cannibals.

Moreover, one of the survivors will say after a while that if it had not been for the avalanche, everyone would have died. The snow not only sheltered the broken fuselage from the winds, but, horribly, it also gave the survivors eight more bodies. Even then it was obvious that they would have to save themselves, that is, the transition through the Andes was inevitable. The surviving pilot claimed that the green valleys from the crash site were not that far away. But winter was in full swing, so even determined rugby players were afraid to hit the road.

Stay alive

Finally, when waiting any longer would have meant death, the passengers of the crashed charter took the plunge. The four of us were going to go, but one of the athletes died from blood poisoning. Three set off - Nando Parrado, Roberto Canessa and Antonio Visintin. Almost immediately they came across tail section plane, where they found some food, clothing and cigarettes. And also batteries.

On the very first night, the weather worsened sharply, and the trio almost froze to death. We had to go back to the fuselage and together sew a sleeping bag from pieces of material obtained from the tail. The batteries were of no use. At first they wanted to use them to transmit a distress signal, but nothing worked out. The batteries provided direct current, but alternating current was needed.

Trapped in the Andes

And again the three brave ones set out in search of saving valleys. But on the third day they realized that they would have to walk for a long time, so Parrado and Canessa sent Vizintin back to the camp, and they themselves, taking his supplies of human meat, moved on. 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 the rescuers.

Parrado himself, being stronger, became the guide. The next day, helicopters arrive at the crash site. The rescuers couldn't believe their eyes. 72 days after the disappearance of Flight 571, they saw living passengers. Unfortunately, not everyone. Those rescued were provided health care. They were treated for altitude sickness and dehydration, scurvy and malnutrition.

Married, has two children. He is interested in 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,” the head said civil aviation Venezuelan General Ramon Vinas. It was previously reported that the plane crashed into a mountain and broke into small pieces upon impact.

The general added that a search operation is ongoing at the site of the plane crash. Rescuers are transported to the scene of an emergency by helicopter, and then they have to descend along mountain terraces to the place where the airliner crashed into the mountain. Fragments of the plane are scattered over a large area, which also complicates the operation, FOX News reports.

Let us recall that the twin-engine ATR42 aircraft, owned by the Venezuelan airline, was flying from Merida to Caracas. Shortly after takeoff, the plane disappeared from radar screens. It was later discovered that he crashed into a mountain.

Plane carrying football team that disappeared in 1961 found in the Andes

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

The plane crash site is about three hundred kilometers south of the capital of Chile, Santiago.

Three people died in a helicopter crash in the Andes

Three people were killed in a helicopter crash in the Chilean Andes, including the former Chilean ambassador to . The accident occurred on Saturday morning 570 kilometers away south of the capital Chile Santiago. As reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the France-Presse agency, there were four people on board, one of them managed to escape by jumping from the helicopter before it fell. He was taken to hospital after a rescue team arrived at the crash site. The bodies of the victims were recovered from the scene of the accident several 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 or on horseback, one-day or long, but they all make you feel the differences between the two cultures colliding in the mountains. Small colonial cities, erected by Europeans arriving on the mainland, and old forts contrast themselves with stone palaces and temples, remembering the times when there was no trace of Amerigo and Christopher here.

Since the mountain range passes through seven countries, the diversity of cultures is truly impressive. The distant descendants of the indigenous population of the mainland mixed in the most bizarre way with European conquerors and brought slaves, and therefore traditional beliefs local residents very different from the Catholicism that exists in the rest of the civilized world. For tourists, perhaps the most interesting cities in the region are La Paz and Cusco.

Moreover, everyone who comes will be happy - the local flavor is unique, so lovers of souvenirs and national cuisine It will be a special pleasure to wander around very cheap, from a European point of view, local establishments. The only danger facing visitors is to initially experience a certain discomfort 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 walking routes, passing through all the places that are more or less of interest to modern spoiled tourists. One of the most remarkable areas mountain range, where the Andes mountains pass, is the territory modern Republic Peru.

Dormant volcano El Misti

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

Many people are probably familiar with the Grand Canyon, which 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 ferns - give the impression of absolute primitiveness, and on your first walk n It leaves you with the feeling of traveling back to prehistoric times, when huge lizards still roamed the earth.

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

When planning a trip to South America, it is worth considering 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.

Horseback crossing of the Andes

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In the west of South America, along the Pacific coast, a long mountain system, the Andes, stretches for 9 thousand km. Almost along their entire length they consist of a system of parallel ridges and intermountain basins. The mountains have gone through a long geological path of development, and in accordance with the differences in development and structure in the Andes, the following zones can be distinguished:

The Eastern Andes are ridges that arose in the Cenozoic era due to blocky uplifts of Paleozoic folded structures that formed earlier. The steep slopes of the Andes mountains were created due to faults in the earth's crust. The Andes are confined to the boundary of lithospheric plates, so earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur here - Llullaillaco, San Pedro, Cotopaxi. This indicates that the Andes are young mountains and their growth continues. A catastrophic earthquake occurred in the Andes in 1960 (Chile). Tremors of enormous force continued for seven days. During this time, 35 cities were destroyed, hundreds settlements wiped off the face of the earth. At least 10 thousand people died. More than 2 million people were left homeless, the tsunami washed away and destroyed port facilities and fishing villages.

The Western Andes are high and medium-height folded block mountains that arose in the middle or at the end of the Alpine orogeny.

The highest peak of the Andes is Mount Aconcagua (6960 m).

The subsoil of the Andes is very rich in minerals, especially ores of non-ferrous and rare metals. Intermountain and foothill troughs are rich in oil.

The large extent of the mountains from north to south determined the diversity of the climate of the northern and southern territories, western and eastern slopes. Temperatures at the surface of the Andes vary in January from +16°C (in the north) to +8° (in the south). At the equator, the January temperature is usually 4-24°C. In July in the north near the surface of the mountains +24°C, in the south 0°C. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in equatorial latitudes. There, on the Pacific coast, up to 7660 mm falls, and the mountain tops are covered with glaciers. Pacific coast between 5° and 30° S. w. lies in the area of coastal deserts. This climate is most pronounced in the tropical zone on the central plateaus of the Andes, where the air is extremely dry. A lot of precipitation falls in the southwest of the Andes, since these territories lie on the paths of westerly winds from the Pacific Ocean. Within the temperate zone, precipitation on the slopes of the Andes falls mainly in winter; in summer there is less rain, and cloudy cloudy weather predominates.

Most of the rivers originating in the Andes flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Only relatively small streams originating in the western part of the Andes flow into the Pacific Ocean. In the Andes there is the largest lake - Titicaca, located on the Andean plateau at an altitude of 3812 m. Its maximum depth is 304 m, the water is fresh. On the interior plateaus of the Andes there are many lakes of tectonic origin, shallow, drainless, and saline.

Mountainous terrain The Andes determines the development of altitudinal zones here. Vegetable world formed gradually, as the mountain system itself emerged. The large extent of the Andes is the reason that different areas differ in the composition of the belts, as well as their number.

) 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

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History of the name

According to the Italian historian Giovanni Anello Oliva (g.), originally by European conquerors “ Andes or Cordilleras" ("Andes, o cordilleras") was the name of the eastern ridge, while the western one was called " Sierra"("sierra"). Currently, most scholars believe that the name comes from the Quechuan word anti(high ridge, ridge), although there are other opinions [ which?] .

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 along the Pacific coast of South America there is a subduction zone: 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).

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

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 greatest height in its northeastern part (Mount Ritakuwa, 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 ranges ( 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. On far north- horst massif of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta 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 them 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 Cordillera (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

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 ranges 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 heights 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

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 - Coastal Cordillera, Longitudinal Valley and 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 increases modern glaciation, 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 big 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

Northern part The Andes belong to the subequatorial belt of the Northern Hemisphere; here, as in the subequatorial belt of the Southern Hemisphere, there is an alternation of wet and dry seasons; precipitation occurs 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. The altitudinal zone 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

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. globe. Deserts rise in places 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, average annual temperatures do not exceed 10 °C. 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 Cordillera Main there is a large (3000 - 6000 mm per year) amount of precipitation (brought mainly to summer time 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).

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, 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).

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.

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

Remember:

Question: What is the largest belt of volcanism and earthquakes in the Andes?

Answer: To the Eastern part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire".

Question: On the boundary of which lithospheric plates are the Andes located?

Answer: Nazca Plate and South American Plate

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 alpine fold systems on the planet.

Question: What currents approach South America from the west?

Answer: Cold Peruvian Current

My geographical research:

Question: How much precipitation falls on the slopes of the Northern Andes?

Answer: 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.

Question: How do the altitudinal zones of the eastern and western ridges of the Northern Andes change? Explain the reasons for the similarity?

Answer: The Northern Andes are characterized by a clearly defined system of altitudinal zones. The lower mountains and coastal lowlands are humid and hot, with the highest average annual temperature in South America (28°C). At the same time, there are almost no seasonal differences. In the lowlands of Maracaibo, the average August temperature is 29°C, the average January temperature is 27°C. The air is saturated with moisture, precipitation falls throughout almost the entire year, its annual amounts reach 2500-3000 mm, and on the Pacific coast - 5000-7000 mm.

Above the lower hot mountain zone, up to an altitude of 2500-3000 m, is the temperate zone of the Northern Andes, tierra templada. This belt, like the lower one, is characterized by an even temperature variation throughout the year, but at altitude the daily temperature amplitudes are quite significant. There is no intense heat typical of the hot zone. The average annual temperature ranges from 15 to 20°C, the amount of precipitation and humidity is much less than in the lower zone. The amount of precipitation in closed high-mountain basins and valleys decreases especially sharply (no more than 1000 mm per year).

The Tierra Templada belt is the most favorable for life. Due to its equal and moderate temperatures, it is called the belt of eternal spring.

The local population calls the next belt of mountains “cold land”, or tierra fria. Its upper boundary passes at an altitude of about 3800 m. The temperature remains even here, but it is lower than in the temperate zone (only 10... 11 ° C), high relative humidity and frequent fogs are characteristic.

The next altitudinal belt of the Northern Andes is alpine, known among the local population as “paramos”, it reaches the border of eternal snow at an altitude of about 4500 m and is characterized by a harsh climate. With positive daytime temperatures in all seasons, there are severe night frosts, snow storms and snowfalls. There is little precipitation, but evaporation is very strong.

Above 4500 m in the Northern Andes, a belt of eternal snow and ice begins - tierra elada, or “frozen land” (tierra elada), with a constantly negative temperature. Many Andean massifs have large alpine-type glaciers. They are most developed in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Central and Western Cordillera of Colombia. High peaks The volcanoes of Tolima, Chimborazo and Cotopaxi are covered with huge caps of snow and ice. There are also significant glaciers in the middle part of the Cordillera de Mérida range.

Question: How does precipitation change in the Central Andes from west to east? Explain your reasons.

Answer: 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), there are very few rivers, precipitation falls up to 100 mm per year, and in eastern part Moist air masses from the Atlantic Ocean penetrate, which increases the amount of precipitation to 1000mm. in year.

Question: what altitudinal belts replace each other on the western and eastern ridges of the Central Andes? Explain your reasons.

Answer: Central Andes- stretched from 5 to 28° S. This is the widest (700-800 km) and most naturally complex section of the mountain system, lying within the tropical zone. Here is the Atacama Desert on the Pacific coast, dry mountain-steppe landscapes on the slopes of high mountains (dozens of peaks exceed 6500 m), semi-desert landscapes - punas, occupying high plateaus and plateaus between the Eastern and Central Cordillera

On the eastern slopes there is a pronounced altitudinal zonation, characteristic of the humid regions of the Andes mountains. Even where the lower mountain belt is adjacent to the dry savannas of the Gran Chaco, higher up, at the level of formation of orographic clouds, wet mountain hylaea of the Tierra Templada belt appear, giving way to formations of the Tierra Fria and Tierra Helada belts.

Questions and tasks:

Question: Describe the geographical position of the Andes.

Answer: The Andes (Andean Cordillera) are 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, the Magdalena River and the rivers of Patagonia originate in the Andes), to the west - the rivers of the Pacific Ocean basin (mostly short).

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.

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

Question: What are the differences in altitudinal zones in different parts of the Andes?

Answer: The number of altitudinal zones depends on the height of the mountains and their position in relation to the equator.

The high Andes are the largest climatic boundary on the South American continent. A continuous mountain barrier separates the Pacific air masses from the Atlantic, and this clearly affects the difference in climate between the western and eastern slopes of the mountains. Vegetable and animal world The Andes are as diverse as the topography and climate of this vast mountain system.

In the equatorial regions, where the climate is constantly hot and humid, equatorial rainforests grow at the foot of the Andes. Here you can find cocoa trees, various palm trees, tree ferns, vines, beautiful orchids, and bamboos along the river banks.

The moist equatorial forest rises along the western and eastern slopes to an altitude of 1000-1200 m. The higher slopes are covered with mountain forest. The air here is constantly humid; rain, fog and damp are common occurrences. In this forest, which covers the mountains up to an altitude of 2500-2800 m, tree ferns, bamboo, and cinchona grow. The trees are intertwined with vines...

The higher you go in the mountains, the cooler climate. The character of the forest also changes noticeably. Tree ferns disappear, bamboo becomes lower and smaller, long and thick vines are replaced by thinner ones that climb not so high on the trees, and sometimes spread along the ground, the deciduous forest becomes lower and thinner, dense undergrowth appears in it, and at an altitude of 3600- 3800 m the forest disappears.

Above the forest line in the equatorial part of the Andes lies a belt of high-mountain meadows - páramo, extending to the belt of eternal snow and ice. The vegetation of this belt is dominated by grasses; there are also mosses and, in places, rocky deserts.

Even higher lies the belt of snow and ice, it begins at an altitude of 4500-4700 m.

Question: Which crops are grown in the Northern Andes and which in the Southern Andes?

Answer: Coffee, corn, tobacco, and potatoes are grown in the Northern Andes.

Citrus fruits, grapes, and olive trees are grown in the Southern Andes.

Question: Why are there no large centers of agriculture in the Central Andes?

Answer: The Central Andes are located in the tropical climatic zone, V natural area deserts (Atacama) and semi-deserts.

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