North American Cordillera

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Description and characteristics

The total length of the mountain range is more than 18 thousand km, the maximum width in North America is 1600 km, in South America - 900 km. Almost along its entire length, it plays the role of a watershed between the basins of two outstanding oceans - the Atlantic and the Pacific, as well as a pronounced climatic natural boundary. In terms of height, the Cordilleras are second only to the Himalayas (the highest mountains in the world, located between Tibetan plateau and the Gangetic plain) and mountain ranges Central Asia. The highest peaks of the Cordillera are McKinley Peak (English: Mount McKinley; Alaska, North America, 6193 m) and (Spanish: Aconcagua; Argentina, South America, 6962 m).

The Cordillera crosses almost all geographical zones (except the Antarctic and subantarctic). For mountain system characterized by a wide variety of landscapes and clearly defined altitudinal zones. The snow line runs at altitudes: in Alaska - 600 m, in Tierra del Fuego - from 600 to 700 m, in Bolivia and Peru it rises to 6500 m. In the north-west of North America and the south-east of the Andes, glaciers descend almost to ocean level , then in the tropical zone they crown only the highest peaks.

The mountain system is divided into 2 parts, consisting of many parallel ranges: the Cordillera of North America and the Cordillera South America, called . One mountain branch runs along Antilles, the other moves to the territory of the South American continent.

The main processes of mountain building, as a result of which the Cordillera was formed, occurred in North America from the end of the Jurassic period to the beginning of the Paleogene, in South America - from the middle of the Cretaceous period, actively continuing in the Cenozoic era. To date, the formation of the mountain system has not been completed, which is confirmed by frequent earthquakes and highly intense volcanic processes. There are more than 80 active volcanoes, of which the most active are the following: Katmai (English: Katmai; south of Alaska), Lassen Peak (English: Lassen Peak; North America), Colima (Spanish: Volcan de Colima; western region of Mexico), (Spanish: Volcan de Antisana; 50 km southeast of Quito, Ecuador), (Spanish: Sangay; Ecuador), (Spanish: Volcan San Pedro; northern Chile), Orizaba (Spanish: Pico de Orizaba) and Popocatepetl (Spanish: Popocatepetl) in Mexico, etc.

Relief structure

The relief of the Cordillera is quite complex; the system is divided into folded-block ridges, volcanic mountains and developing young platform depressions (accumulative plains). Mountain folds were formed at the junction of 2 lithospheric plates, in the area of compression of the earth's crust, which is crossed by many faults starting at the bottom of the ocean.

The largest relief structures of the Cordillera include: Alaska Range (Alaska), Coast Ranges, Rocky Mountains (western USA and Canada), Colorado Plateau (western USA), Cascade Mountains (English: Cascade Range; western North America), Sierra Nevada (Spanish: Sierra Nevada; North America). The ranges are cut by deep river valleys called canyons.

Cordillera

The Andean Cordillera, or (Spanish: Cordillera de los Andes) is the southern part of the Cordillera with a length of about 9 thousand km, they border the entire South American continent from the northwest. The average width of the Andes is 500 km (maximum width: 750 km), the average height is about 4 thousand m.

The Andes ranges are a giant interoceanic divide. The rivers of the basin originate in the mountains and flow to the east Atlantic Ocean(and many of its tributaries, tributaries of Paraguay, rivers of Patagonia), to the west - small rivers of the basin Pacific Ocean.

The Andean ridges serve as the most important climatic barrier, protecting the territories lying to the west of the Main Cordillera chain from the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, and the eastern territories from the Pacific influence. Mountains stretch across 5 climatic zones: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate.

Due to their impressive length, individual landscape parts of the Andes are strikingly different from each other. Based on the nature of the relief and climatic differences, there are 3 main regions: Northern, Central and Southern Andes.

The Andes stretch from north to south through the territories of 7 South American countries: Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. Behind (Spanish Drake) is the Antarctic Peninsula, which is a continuation of the South American Andes.

Minerals

The Cordilleras are characterized by a variety of mineral resources, in particular, huge reserves of ferrous and non-ferrous ores. The Andes are predominantly rich in non-ferrous metal ores; there are significant deposits of tungsten, vanadium, bismuth, tin, molybdenum, lead, arsenic, zinc, antimony, etc.

The territory of Chile has large deposits of copper. In the foothills of Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and Venezuela there are oil and gas fields, as well as brown coal deposits. In the Bolivian Andes there are deposits of iron, in the Chilean Andes - sodium nitrate, in the Colombian - underground storehouses of platinum, gold, silver and emeralds.

Cordillera: Climate

Northern Andes. The northern part of the Andes belongs to the subequatorial zone of the northern hemisphere with alternating dry and wet seasons. The rainy season is from May to November. The Caribbean Andes are located at the junction of the tropical and subequatorial zones; a tropical climate with low precipitation prevails here all year round.

The equatorial belt is characterized by an abundance of precipitation and an almost complete absence of seasonal temperature fluctuations, for example, in (Spanish Quito - the capital of Ecuador) fluctuations in average monthly temperatures over the year are about 0.4°C. The altitudinal zone is clearly defined here: in the lower part of the mountains the climate is hot and humid with almost daily precipitation; in the lowlands there are many swamps. With increasing altitude, the amount of precipitation decreases, but the massiveness of the snow cover increases. From an altitude of 2.5 – 3 thousand m, daily temperature fluctuations increase (up to 20°C). At altitudes of 3.5 – 3.8 thousand m, average daily temperatures are about + 10 °C. Even higher - the climate is dry, harsh, with frequent snowfalls; When daytime temperatures are above zero, severe frosts occur at night. Above 4.5 thousand m there is a zone of eternal snow.

Central Andes. One can note an obvious asymmetry in the distribution of precipitation: the eastern Andean slopes are moistened much more intensely than the western ones. To the west of the Cordillera Main chain, the climate is desert, there are very few rivers, in this part of the Andes extends (Spanish: Desierto de Atacama), the driest place on the planet. In some places the desert rises to 3 thousand meters above sea level. The few oases are mainly located in the valleys of small rivers, fed by water from the melting of mountain glaciers. Average January temperature coastal zones ranges from +24°C (in the north) to +19°C (in the south); mid-July - from +19°C (in the north) to +13°C (in the south). Above 3 thousand m there is also little precipitation, invasions of cold winds are noted, then the temperature at times drops to −20 °C. The average July temperature is not higher than +15°C.

Fogs are frequent at low altitudes. The climate is very harsh, average annual temperatures do not rise above +10°C. It has a great softening effect on the climate of the surrounding area.

Southern Andes. The Chilean-Argentine Andes are characterized by a subtropical climate, with dry summers and wet winters. As you move away from the ocean, the climate becomes more continental and seasonal temperature fluctuations increase.

Moving south, the subtropical climate of the western slopes gradually turns into a temperate oceanic climate. Powerful western cyclones bring to the coast huge amount precipitation - it rains more than two hundred days a year, there are frequent dense fogs, and the sea is constantly stormy. The eastern slopes are drier than the western ones; the average summer temperature on the western slopes of the mountains ranges from +10°C to +15°C.

At the southernmost tip of the Andes ( Tierra del Fuego), the climate is very humid, formed by powerful southwest winds. Precipitation occurs most of the year, often in the form of drizzle; Low temperatures prevail throughout the year with very slight seasonal variations.

Vegetation

Impressive heights, a pronounced difference in the moisture content of the western and eastern slopes of the mountains - all this determines great variety vegetation cover of the Andes, there are usually 3 altitudinal zones:

Tierra caliente (Spanish: Tierra caliente - “Hot land”), lower forest belt in the mountains of Central (up to 800 m) and South America (up to 1500 m);
Tierra fria (Spanish: Tierra fria - “Cold Land”), the upper forest belt in Central and South America, from 1700-2000 m (at low latitudes) to 3500 m (below the equator);
Tierra Helado (Spanish: Tierra helado - “Frosty Land”), a high-mountain belt (between 3500-3800 and 4500-4800 m) with a harsh climate.

IN Venezuelan Andes Shrubs and deciduous forests grow. Lower slopes (“tierra caliente”) from Northwestern to Central Andes covered with tropical (equatorial) and mixed forests, which are characterized by various palm trees, banana and cocoa trees, ficus trees, etc.

In the Tierra Fria belt, the nature of the vegetation changes noticeably: tree ferns, bamboos, cinchona, and coca bushes are typical for this zone. Between 3000 and 3800 m, shrubs and low-growing trees grow: lianas and epiphytes, tree ferns, myrtle, heather and evergreen oaks are common. Even higher, predominantly xerophytic vegetation grows, with moss swamps and lifeless rocky cliffs. Above 4500 m there is a belt of ice and eternal snow.

Further south, in the subtropics Chilean Andes Evergreen shrubs predominate. The high mountain plateaus in the north are covered with wet equatorial meadows - (Spanish: Paramo), in Peruvian Andes and in the east of Tierra helado - dry mountain-tropical grass steppes of the hulk (Spanish: Hulka), on the Pacific west coast - desert vegetation, in the Atacama Desert - numerous succulent epiphytes and cacti. Between 3000 m and 4500 m, semi-desert vegetation (dry puna) predominates: dwarf shrubs, lichens, cereals and cacti. To the east of the Main Cordillera there is a large amount of precipitation, and here there is steppe vegetation with cushion-shaped shrubs and various grasses: feather grass, fescue, reed grass.

Tropical forests (cinchona, palm trees) rise along the wet slopes of the Eastern Cordillera up to 1500 m, turning into low-growing evergreen forests (bamboos, ferns, lianas); and above 3000 m - into high mountain steppes. A typical representative of the flora of the Andean highlands (found up to 4500 m) is polylepis (Polylepis, family Rosaceae) - this plant is common in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador.

In the middle Chilean Andes today mountain slopes practically bare, there are only isolated groves consisting of pines, araucarias, beeches, eucalyptus and plane trees.

The slopes of the Patagonian Andes are covered with subarctic multi-tiered forests of tall trees and evergreen shrubs; There are many lianas, mosses and lichens in the forests. To the south there are mixed forests in which magnolias, beeches, tree ferns, conifers and bamboos grow. Eastern Patagonian Andes covered mainly with beech forests. The extreme south of the Patagonian slopes is characterized by tundra vegetation.

Mixed forests of tall deciduous and evergreen trees (canelo and southern beech) occupy a narrow coastal strip in the west of the Andean ranges of Tierra del Fuego; almost immediately above the forest border there is a snow belt. In the east, subantarctic alpine meadows and peatlands are common.

Animal world

The Andean fauna is characterized by a large number of endemic species. The mountains are inhabited by alpacas and llamas (the local population uses representatives of these species for meat and wool, and also as pack animals), various species of monkeys, pudu deer, relict spectacled bear and gaemal (endemics) guanaco, vicuña, sloth, Azar's fox, marsupial opossum, chinchilla, anteater and degu rodents. In the south live: Magellanic dog, blue fox, tuco-tuco (endemic rodent), etc.

A variety of birds are found in abundance in the “fog forests” (tropical rain forests of Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and northwestern Argentina), among them hummingbirds, which can be found even at altitudes of more than 4 thousand m. The endemic condor lives at altitudes up to 7 thousand m. Some species of animals, such as chinchillas (which in the 19th - early 20th centuries were uncontrollably exterminated for the sake of valuable skins), as well as the Titicaca whistler and wingless grebes, living only in the vicinity of Lake Titicaca (Spanish: Titicaca), today they are on the verge of extinction.

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Cordillera is the largest mountain system in the world. It is located on the west coast of North and South America. That is, it is divided into two approximately equal parts. For this reason, sometimes its southern part, the Andes, is called the longest mountain system (9000 km).

This is partly true, since the Andes, as a separate object, really have a large extent.

The length of the Cordillera is about 18 thousand km. Approximately 9 thousand km for each of its parts - they are almost equal. But if we talk about the sizes in general, then northern part larger - it is wider (up to 1600 km). But the southern one is higher - 6962 meters at the highest point (Mount Aconcagua). In the northern part of the Cordillera, the height reaches 6190 meters (Mount Denali), which is also quite a lot. In general, this mountain system is among the leaders in terms of height, although it is far from in first place.

Since the Cordilleras extend over vast distances, they lie in almost all geographical zones. This means that the conditions here are very diverse. However, something similar is observed throughout the entire length of the mountains - glaciation. Even in the hottest climatic zones there are snow caps on the mountains (due to the relatively high altitude mountains). Total area glaciations amount to 90 thousand km 2.

Peaks of the Cordillera

Although the highest points of the mountain system are located at six thousand meters, the average height of the mountains is 3-4 km. Although, the relief of this geological object is very diverse, so the designation of height is rather arbitrary.

The highest peaks of the mountain system are:

— Mount Aconcagua ( extinct volcano) - 6962 meters.
— Mount Denali (McKinley) — 6190 meters.
— Ojos del Salado ( largest volcano world) - 6891 meters.
- Monte Pissis - 6792 meters.
— Llullaillaco ( active volcano) — 6739 meters
— Tupungato (active volcano) — 6565 meters.
— Volcano Orizaba — 5700 meters.

— The system consists of a large number of mountain arcs, which already gives some uniqueness to the Cordillera.
You can also note the presence of mountain ranges and basins that form rises and falls in the relief - this is very interesting.
— In the Cordillera there is quite a high volcanic activity. True, we are not talking about erupting volcanoes.
— The mountains contain large reserves of non-ferrous and ferrous metals, as well as oil and brown coal.
— Thanks to the large number of climatic zones, flora The Cordillera is very diverse.

The mountains of America are primarily the Cordillera system - the longest mountain system in the world, which stretches along the western coast of both Americas (North and South America). Any resident of North and South America knows where the Cordilleras are. The slopes of the ridges in the north. parts of the Cordillera are covered mainly. coniferous forests.

The Cordilleras lie in all geographic zones of America (except for the subantarctic and Antarctic) and are distinguished by a wide variety of landscapes and pronounced altitudinal zonation.

In the northwestern part of the Cordillera of North America and the southeastern Andes, glaciers descend to ocean level; in the hot zone they cover only the most high peaks. The formation of the Cordillera has not yet ended, as evidenced by frequent earthquakes and intense volcanism (more than 80 active volcanoes).

The Cordilleras are unusual in that they are located on two continents at once. Besides themselves Rocky Mountains, it includes the Brooks Range in Alaska, the Richardson Range and the Mackenzie Mountains in Canada, and the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain system in Mexico. The highest point of the belt is Mount Elbert, which is located within the state of Colorado.

It includes the Fraser Plateau, Columbia Mountains, Great Basin Highlands, Colorado Plateau and Mexican Highlands. In Central America and the islands Caribbean Sea The Cordilleras are divided into three main mountain arcs, which are separated by depressions.

The North American cordillera is composed of various geological structures of different ages. Due to the very large extent in the meridional direction, the climate in the Cordillera varies greatly. These mountains stretch along the western side of the above-mentioned continents: from Alaska (northwestern North America) to the island of Tierra del Fuego, which is located near Antarctica.

The Cordillera is one of the highest mountains in the world.

Only the Himalayas, as well as several other mountain systems in central Asia, exceed them in height. In the territory where the Cordillera is located, entire Indian civilizations arose, unique in their development and cultural heritage.

The Cordillera of North America is divided into a number of ranges. Further southeast within Canada and the United States, the Cordilleras are called the “Rocky Mountains.” Cordillera on the west of the northern continent. America. Int. Some of them are formed by plateaus, highlands and plateaus - Yukon, Fraser, Columbian, Colorado, Mexican. Glaciers occupy approx. 80 thousand km²; most of them are in the mountains of Alaska. To the east evergreens grow in the periphery of the Mexican highlands tropical forests, in the Cordillera Center. America - deciduous tropical forests, thorny bushes, cactus thickets and secondary savannas.

Where is the Cordillera?

In the Cordillera Center. America and the West Indies are distinguished by three mountain arcs: the northern arc follows through the Cayman Islands to Cuba (Sierra Maestra Mountains), Haiti (Central. Southern parts of the internal plateaus are occupied by dry steppes and deserts. Cordillera - This term also has others meanings, see Cordillera (meanings). large mountains- Cascade, Sierra Nevada and Transverse Volcanic Sierra.

The relief of North America is varied and contrasting. In the west, the plains are adjacent to the mountain structures of the Cordillera. Within the mountainous West of the continent are the Cordilleras. In terms of age, the Cordillera is the youngest part of the continent, although they began to form in the Mesozoic.

Within this mountain system, three ridge belts are clearly visible. One of them is the Cordillera proper - in the west. The second belt, the eastern one, covers the Rocky Mountains. On far north These ridges come closer together, in the central part, on the contrary, they diverge.

The cordillera prevents oceanic air masses from penetrating deep into the continent. With distance from the Pacific Ocean, significant differences between the northern and southern parts Cordillera. By natural features this large mountain system can be divided into the following natural countries: Cordillera of Alaska and Canada, Cordillera of the USA, Mexican Highlands, mountains and islands Central America.

The mountain ranges of this natural country on the east and west they border the Yukon Plateau. The development of the mountains has not yet ended, as evidenced by the large number of active volcanoes. Between them and the Sierra Nevada mountains is deep depression California Valley. This is the mountain system of the Appalachian Highlands, stretching along east coast North America. THE CORDILLERA OF NORTH AMERICA is a system of mountain ranges and plateaus that is part of the Cordillera system and occupies the western part. part of the North America.

Physiographic zoning of the Cordillera

600 - 800 m, and Brooks Mountains, 1200 - 1800 m.

Within Canada, C.S.A. have a southeast. The main uplifts of the Canadian part of the C.S.A. - the Rocky Mountains in the east and the Coast Range in the west - have an alpine topography, due to this. The Canadian Coast Range passes into the Cascade Mountains with volcanics.

The Cordillera is one of the highest mountains in the world

To the south of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, the mountain belt bifurcates: one branch deviates to the east and continues on the Center Islands. America, the other stretches to the Isthmus of Panama. Between the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and South. America's Cordillera has the character of more or less isolated, mainly. low ridges and massifs.

The snow line in Alaska is at an altitude of 600 meters, on Tierra del Fuego - 500-700 meters, in Bolivia and Southern Peru rises to 6000-6500 meters. The western belt is represented by folded and volcanic ridges that run parallel to the Pacific coast. The inner belt includes a series of plateaus and plateaus located between the other two belts. Thus, the arc, which is a structural continuation of the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Madre Oriental, forms the mountains of the islands of Cuba, northern Haiti and Puerto Rico.

See what “Cordillera of North America” is in other dictionaries:

The mountains began to form in the Jurassic period, a little earlier than the Andes, the formation of which began only at the end of the Cretaceous period. To the north of the 50th latitude, snow-fed watercourses predominate, and to the south - rain. Especially many hydroelectric power plants have been built in the Columbia River Basin.

The Cordillera contains the sources of such large rivers as the Yukon, Mackenzie, Missouri, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande and many others. The North American Cordilleras are located mainly in countries such as Canada, the USA and Mexico.

Cordillera(Spanish Cordilleras, literally - mountain ranges), the largest mountain system on the globe that has no equal in extent. The Cordillera mountain system is also one of the highest mountain systems, second only to the Himalayas and the mountain systems of Central Asia.

Geography of the Cordillera mountain system

The Cordillera extends from the Arctic coast of Alaska (66° N) in northwestern North America along the western coasts of North and South America all the way to southern shores Tierra del Fuego (56° S) in southern South America. On its way, the Cordilleras pass through many countries of both continents: Canada, the USA, Mexico, Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile. The length of the Cordillera mountain system is more than 18,000 kilometers. The highest elevation is located in South America at the top of Mount Aconcagua at 6960 meters above sea level, and in North America the highest peak of the Cordillera corresponds to the peak on Mount McKinley (in Alaska) reaching a height of 6193 meters. The Cordilleras form a giant barrier between the Pacific Ocean and the eastern parts of both continents. The Cordillera is a large divide between two oceans, the Atlantic and the Pacific, and is also the climatic boundary between countries located on both sides of the mountain system. The entire Cordillera mountain system is usually divided into two parts, corresponding to the territories of both continents, these are the Cordillera of North America and the Cordillera of South America, or the Andes. The entire mountain system consists of numerous parallel ridges bordering an intermittent belt of internal plateaus and plateaus (in North America - Yukon, Fraser, Columbian, B. Basin, Colorado, Mexico; in South America - Peruvian and Central Andian). In North America, there are three distinct parallel systems of mountain ranges, one of them (the Rocky Mountains) extends east of the plateau zone, the other system of mountain ranges extends directly to the west of this zone (Alaska Range, Coast Range of Canada, Cascade Mountains, Sierra Nevada etc.) and the third system of mountain ranges runs along the Pacific coast, partly on the coastal islands. Coming to Central America, the Cordillera gradually decreases and bifurcates into two branches. One branch runs in the east along the Antilles, the other crosses the Isthmus of Panama and enters the territory of the South American mainland. The Andes (Cordillera of South America) in the northern and central parts consist of four, and in the remaining extent of two systems of parallel ridges, separated by deep longitudinal depressions or intermountain plateaus.

The highest mountain peaks of the Cordillera are the ridges of the middle part of the Andes, where the height of individual mountain peaks reaches more than 6700 m (Aconcagua, 6960 m; Ojos del Salado, 6880 m; Sajama, 6780 m; Llullaillaco, 6723 m). Width mountain range varies quite a lot, so in North America the width of the Cordillera mountain belt reaches 1600 km, and on the Southern continent it reaches only 900 km, which is almost half as much.

The main mountain-building processes, thanks to which the Cordillera arose, began in North America back in the Jurassic period, in South America (where the structures of the Paleozoic Hercynian folding take a large part) - at the end of the Cretaceous period and took place in close connection with the formation of mountain systems on other continents ( cm.

Alpine folding). Mountain-building processes continued actively in the Cenozoic. These processes largely determine the main orographic elements.

The folded structures of the Cordillera are closely related to the mountain systems of northeast Asia and Antarctica. According to recent observations, the formation of the Cordillera is far from over; these observations are confirmed by quite frequent and sometimes very strong destructive earthquakes and intense volcanism often leading to severe destruction and casualties among both people and the animal world.

In the active regions of the Cordillera there are more than 80 active volcanoes, of which the most active are Katmai, Lassen Peak, Colima, Antisana, Sangay, San Pedro, the volcanoes of Chile, etc. Quaternary glaciation also played an important role in the formation of the Cordillera relief, especially to the north of 44° N. w. and south of 40° S. w. The Cordillera is rich in mineral resources. Here I mine significant deposits of copper (especially rich deposits in Chile), zinc, lead, molybdenum, tungsten, gold, silver, platinum, tin, oil, etc.

Climate of the Cordillera mountain system

Due to its large extent from north to south, the highly dissected terrain and the high altitude of the mountains, the result is an exceptionally large diversity natural conditions in the Cordillera mountain system. The Cordillera lies in almost all geographical zones globe(except for the Antarctic and subantarctic belt).

The climate of the Cordillera has great diversity and varies greatly depending on the latitude of the area, height and exposure of the slopes. The marginal ridges of the Cordillera are heavily moistened in the temperate and subarctic zones (western slopes) and in the equatorial and subequatorial zones (mainly eastern slopes). The inland plateaus have a sharply continental climate, in subtropical and tropical zones are characterized by exceptional aridity. Significant parts of plateaus, internal depressions and slopes of ridges, mainly in tropical zones, are occupied by steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. The heavily humidified outlying mountain ranges are covered with dense forests. In temperate zones, coniferous forests (in the north) and mixed forests of evergreen beeches and conifers (in the south) are widely developed; closer to the equator, mixed (deciduous-evergreen) subtropical and tropical forests are found. On the wet slopes of the ridges of the equatorial, subequatorial and subtropical zones there are complex spectra of high zones, from gils to eternal snow. The snow line lies in Alaska at an altitude of 600 m, in Tierra del Fuego 500-700 m, in Bolivia and Southern Peru it rises to 6000-6500 m. In Alaska and Southern Chile, glaciers descend to ocean level; in the hot zone they cover only the highest tops.

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Southern shores of Tierra del Fuego (56° latitude). Length more than 18 thousand km. Located in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile. Forms a high barrier between the plains of the eastern parts of the continents and the Pacific coast. Almost along its entire length. are a watershed between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as a sharply defined climatic boundary between countries lying on both sides of the mountain uplift. In terms of altitude, China is second only to the Himalayas and the mountain systems of Central Asia. The highest peaks of Kazakhstan: in North America - . McKinley (in Alaska), 6193, in South America - the city of Aconcagua, 6960 m. The entire K. system is divided into 2 parts - the Cordillera of North America and the Cordillera of South America, or the Andes, and consists of numerous parallel ridges bordering an intermittent belt of internal plateaus and plateaus (in North America - Yukon, Fraser, Columbian, Basin, Colorado, Mexican; in South - Peruvian and Central Andian). In North America, there are 3 parallel systems of mountain ranges, one of which runs to. from the plateau zone (Rocky Mountains), another - directly to the west of this zone (Alaska Range, Coastal Range of Canada, Cascade Mountains, Sierra Nevada, etc.) and the third - along the Pacific coast, partially on the coastal islands. In Central America, the trees become lower and bifurcate. One of their branches goes through the Antilles, the other crosses the Isthmus of Panama into the territory of South America. The Andes in the northern and central parts consist of four, and for the rest of the area, two systems of parallel ridges, separated by deep longitudinal depressions or intermountain plateaus. The highest are the ridges of the middle part of the Andes, where the height of individual peaks reaches more than 6700 m (Aconcagua, 6960 m; Ojos del Salado, 6880 m; Sajama, 6780 m; Llullaillaco, 6723 m). The width of the mountain belt in North America reaches 1600 km, in South America - 900 km. The main mountain-building processes, as a result of which the Caucasus arose, began in North America in the Jurassic period, in South America (where the structures of the Paleozoic Hercynian folding took a large part) - at the end of the Cretaceous and took place in close connection with the formation of mountain systems on other continents (see . Alpine folding). Mountain-building movements continued actively in the Cenozoic. These movements largely determine the main orographic elements. The folded structures of Kazakhstan are closely related to the mountain systems of the North-East. Asia and Antarctica. The formation of K. has not yet ended, as evidenced by frequent earthquakes and intense volcanism. There are more than 80 active volcanoes here, of which the most active are Katmai, Lassen Peak, Colima, Antisana, Sangay, San Pedro, the volcanoes of Chile, and others. Quaternary glaciation also played an important role in the formation of the relief of Kazakhstan, especially to the north of 44 ° s. . and to the south from 40° south. w. Within the borders of Kazakhstan there are significant deposits of copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, tungsten, gold, silver, platinum, tin, oil, etc. A consequence of the considerable extent from north to south, the dissected relief and high altitude of the mountains is the exceptional diversity of natural conditions K. This mountain system lies in all geographical zones (except Antarctic and subantarctic). The climate of Kazakhstan varies greatly depending on the latitude of the area, height, and exposure of the slopes. The marginal ridges are abundantly moistened in the temperate and subarctic zones (western slopes) and in the equatorial and subequatorial zones (mainly eastern slopes). The internal plateaus have a sharply continental climate; in the subtropical and tropical zones they are characterized by exceptional aridity. Significant parts of plateaus, internal depressions and slopes of ridges, mainly in tropical zones, are occupied by steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. The heavily moistened outlying mountain chains are covered with dense forests. In temperate zones, coniferous forests (in the north) and mixed forests of evergreen beeches and conifers (in the south) are widely developed; closer to the equator, mixed (deciduous-evergreen) subtropical and tropical forests are found. On the wet slopes of the ridges of the equatorial, subequatorial and subtropical zones there are complex spectra of high zones, from gils to eternal snow. The snow line lies in Alaska at an altitude of 600 m, in Tierra del Fuego 500-700 m, in Bolivia and Southern Peru it rises to 6000-6500 m. In Alaska and Southern Chile, glaciers descend to ocean level; in the hot zone they cover only the highest tops. G. M. Ignatiev.

cordillera

CORDILLERA (Spanish: Cordilleras) is the longest mountain system on the globe (more than 18 thousand km long), bordering the western outskirts of the continents of the North. and Yuzh. America from 66°C. w. (Alaska) to 56°S. w. (Terra del Fuego). Subdivided into Cordillera North. America and Cordillera South. America, or the Andes. The highest peaks: in the North. America - McKinley (6193 m), in the South. - Aconcagua (6960 m). There are many active volcanoes (Katmai, Saint-Miguel, Llaima, etc.). High tectonic activity. The Cordillera is a climatic boundary, as well as a watershed between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Cordillera

(Spanish Cordilleras, literally ≈ mountain ranges), the largest mountain system on the globe, stretching along the western edges of North and South America, from the Arctic coast of Alaska (66╟ N) to the southern shores of Tierra del Fuego (56╟ S). sh.). Length more than 18 thousand km. Located in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile. Forms a high barrier between the plains of the eastern parts of the continents and the Pacific coast. Almost along its entire length, the Caucasus is a watershed between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as a sharply defined climatic boundary between countries lying on both sides of the mountain uplift. In terms of altitude, China is second only to the Himalayas and the mountain systems of Central Asia. The highest peaks of Canada: in North America ≈ Mount McKinley (in Alaska), 6193 m, in South America ≈ Aconcagua, 6960 m. The entire system of Canada is divided into 2 parts ≈ Cordillera of North America and Cordillera of South America , or Andes, and consists of numerous parallel ridges bordering an intermittent belt of internal plateaus and plateaus (in North America - Yukon, Fraser, Columbian, B. Basin, Colorado, Mexico; in South America - Peruvian and Central Andean). In North America, there are three parallel systems of mountain ranges, one of which runs east from the plateau zone (Rocky Mountains), the other directly to the west from this zone (Alaska Range, Coast Range of Canada, Cascade Mountains, Sierra Nevada, etc. .) and the third along the Pacific coast, partially on the coastal islands. In Central America, the trees become lower and bifurcate. One of their branches goes through the Antilles, the other crosses the Isthmus of Panama into the territory of South America. The Andes in the northern and central parts consist of four, and for the rest of the length of two systems of parallel ridges, separated by deep longitudinal depressions or intermountain plateaus.

The highest are the ridges of the middle part of the Andes, where the height of individual peaks reaches more than 6700 m (Aconcagua, 6960 m; Ojos del Salado, 6880 m; Sajama, 6780 m; Llullaillaco, 6723 m). The width of the mountain belt in North America reaches 1600 km, in South America ≈ 900 km. The main mountain-building processes, as a result of which the Caucasus arose, began in North America in the Jurassic period, in South America (where the structures of the Paleozoic Hercynian folding took a large part) at the end of the Cretaceous and took place in close connection with the formation of mountain systems on other continents (see . Alpine folding). Mountain-building movements continued actively in the Cenozoic. These movements largely determine the main orographic elements. The folded structures of Kazakhstan are closely related to the mountain systems of the North-East. Asia and Antarctica. The formation of K. has not yet ended, as evidenced by frequent earthquakes and intense volcanism. There are more than 80 active volcanoes, of which the most active are Katmai, Lassen Peak, Colima, Antisana, Sangay, San Pedro, the volcanoes of Chile, and others. Quaternary glaciation also played an important role in the formation of the relief of Kazakhstan, especially to the north of 44 ╟ s. w. and to the south from 40╟ south. w.

Within the borders of Kazakhstan there are significant deposits of copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, tungsten, gold, silver, platinum, tin, oil, etc. A consequence of the considerable extent from north to south, the dissected relief and high altitude of the mountains is the exceptional diversity of natural conditions. K. This mountain system lies in all geographical zones (except Antarctic and subantarctic). The climate of Kazakhstan varies greatly depending on the latitude of the area, height, and exposure of the slopes. The marginal ridges are abundantly moistened in the temperate and subarctic zones (western slopes) and in the equatorial and subequatorial zones (mainly eastern slopes). The internal plateaus have a sharply continental climate; in the subtropical and tropical zones they are characterized by exceptional aridity. Significant parts of plateaus, internal depressions and slopes of ridges, mainly in tropical zones, are occupied by steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. The heavily humidified outlying mountain ranges are covered with dense forests. In temperate zones, coniferous forests (in the north) and mixed forests of evergreen beeches and conifers (in the south) are widely developed; closer to the equator, mixed (deciduous-evergreen) subtropical and tropical forests are found. On the wet slopes of the ridges of the equatorial, subequatorial and subtropical zones there are complex spectra of high zones, from gils to eternal snow. The snow line lies in Alaska at an altitude of 600 m, in Tierra del Fuego 500≈700 m, in Bolivia and Southern Peru it rises to 6000≈6500 m. In Alaska and Southern Chile, glaciers descend to ocean level; in the hot zone they cover only the highest tops.

G. M. Ignatiev.

Wikipedia

Cordillera

Cordillera, the longest mountain system on the globe, stretching along the western edges of North and South America, from 66° N. w. (Alaska) to 56° S. w. (Terra del Fuego).

The entire Cordillera system is divided into 2 parts - the Cordillera of North America and the Cordillera of South America, or the Andes.

Length - more than 18 thousand km, width - up to 1600 km in North America and up to 900 km in South America. Located in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

Almost along its entire length it is a watershed between the basins of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as a sharply defined climatic boundary. They are second in height only to the Himalayas and the mountain systems of Central Asia. The highest peaks of the Cordillera: in North America - Mount Denali (McKinley, 6190 m), in South America - Mount Aconcagua (6962 m).

The Cordilleras lie in all geographic zones of America and are distinguished by a wide variety of landscapes and pronounced altitudinal zones. The snow line in Alaska is at an altitude of 600 meters, in Tierra del Fuego - 500-700 meters, in Bolivia and Southern Peru it rises to 6000-6500 meters. In the northwestern part of the Cordillera of North America and in the southeastern Andes, glaciers descend to ocean level; in the hot zone they cover only the highest peaks. The total area of glaciation is about 90 thousand km² (in the Cordillera of North America - 67 thousand km², in the Andes - about 20 thousand km²

Cordillera (disambiguation)

Cordillera:

Cordillera - mountain system in North and South America
The Central Cordillera is the largest mountain system of the Philippine archipelago

Cordillera (Moon)

""" Cordillera """ - concentric lunar mountains surrounding the Eastern Sea on back side Moons. Can only be observed from Earth eastern part mountains located in the southwestern part of the visible side of the Moon. The diameter of the mountains is about 956 km and they are the third, outermost, concentric structure around the Eastern Sea. The inner two concentric structures around the sea form the Ruk Mountains. The height of the mountains above the surrounding area is about 1250 m. The northeastern section of the mountains is adjacent to Lake Autumn, the Schlüter and Hartwig craters. The eastern section of the mountains is crossed by the Eichstedt crater. The craters Krasnov, Wright, Shaler and the Bouvard Valley are adjacent to the southwestern section. The mountains are located in an area limited by selenographic coordinates 4.17° - 34.89° S, 78.29° - 112.04° W.
The Cordillera Mountains owe their origin to the impact event that gave birth to the Eastern Sea. According to one point of view, the mountains represent the outer ridge of the sea crater, according to another, the Cordillera is formed by material ejected during the impact, and the outer ridge of the sea is formed by the Ruk Mountains. The period of formation of the Cordillera mountains is not precisely known, but presumably dates back to the Late Imbrian period.

In accordance with the tradition of naming lunar mountains after the names of terrestrial mountains, the name of the terrestrial mountains of the Cordillera, a mountain system along the western edges of North and South America, was used.

Examples of the use of the word cordillera in literature.

Just on the surface of Venezuela, a huge river loomed in a graceful semi-steep path, which, both in the first bend, where it receives the waters of the Apure tributary, and in the second bend, where Guaviare and Atabapo carry waters into it from Cordillera, could only be called throughout its entire length by the magnificent name of Orinoco.

The sculptor conscientiously sculpted miniature Cordillera, Appalachians, Vian Highlands.

Let me remind you that in just a few generations they paved the way between the ice of Laurasia and Cordillera and penetrated the plain, where the taiga, after the retreat of the glaciers, turned into fertile meadows.

There they boarded a sports plane and flew to the foothills at top speed. Cordillera where on the camouflaged tiny runway A helicopter was waiting for them.

On the first day, its participants met in the Chilean capital of Santiago in a specially built Congress Center, located in the aristocratic quarter of the Providencia district, almost at the very foot of the Andean Mountains. Cordillera.

Fabien begins to guess: an unprecedented storm raging over the Andean Cordillera, changed front and moved towards the sea.

Soon they scared away hundreds of roe deer and guanacos, similar to those that had so violently attacked them in the peaks Cordillera.

Find out, please, whether Interpol has undertaken any searches in Cordillera?

This piece of land, washed by the raging Caribbean Sea and sent towards it by its terrible tropical jungle, above which rises an arrogant ridge Cordillera, and now still full of secrets and romance.

Having passed the capital of Araucania, we pass through the Antuco mountain pass Cordillera, the volcano will remain to the side, in the south.

It was necessary, before setting out, to decide which pass to cross Cordillera choose without deviating from the intended course.

Nevertheless, the detachment moved quickly forward, and by six o'clock in the evening the remaining forty miles behind Cordillera they only dimly appeared on the horizon, lost in the evening fog.

He described, without missing a single episode, the entire journey from one ocean to another: about the passage through Cordillera, about the earthquake, the disappearance of Robert, his kidnapping by a condor, Thalcave's shot, the attack of red wolves, the boy's self-sacrifice, meeting Sergeant Manuel, flood, shelter on Ombu, lightning, fire, caymans, tornado, night on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

Enrico began asking the planter about the road to Cordillera and mentioned oil.

A week later, we left San Antonio on the same day for Cordillera three different expeditions.

Any resident of North and South America knows where the Cordilleras are. The slopes of the ridges in the north. parts of the Cordillera are covered mainly. coniferous forests. The Cordillera contains the sources of such large rivers as the Yukon, Mackenzie, Missouri, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande and many others.

The Cordilleras lie in all geographic zones of America (except for the subantarctic and Antarctic) and are distinguished by a wide variety of landscapes and pronounced altitudinal zonation. In the northwestern part of the Cordillera of North America and in the southeastern Andes, glaciers descend to ocean level; in the hot zone they cover only the highest peaks.

See what “Cordillera of North America” is in other dictionaries:

The Cordilleras are unusual in that they are located on two continents at once. In addition to the Rocky Mountains themselves, it includes the Brooks Range in Alaska, the Richardson Range and the Mackenzie Mountains in Canada, and the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain system in Mexico. The highest point of the belt is Mount Elbert, which is located within the state of Colorado.

The Cordillera is one of the highest mountains in the world

It includes the Aleutian, Alaskan and Coast Ranges, the Cascade Mountains, the Sierra Nevada mountain system, the Sierra Madre Occidental and Southern, and the Transverse Volcanic Sierra. It includes the Fraser Plateau, Columbia Mountains, Great Basin Highlands, Colorado Plateau and Mexican Highlands. In Central America and the Caribbean islands, the Cordilleras are divided into three main mountain arcs, which are separated by depressions. The North American cordillera is composed of various geological structures of different ages.

Cordillera Height - highest point

Due to the very large extent in the meridional direction, the climate in the Cordillera varies greatly. In Alaska, Canada and the northwestern United States, on the Pacific slopes, the climate is characterized as rather mild and humid. Located in the Cascade Mountains national park Mount Rainier, on whose territory the volcano of the same name is located. These mountains stretch along the western side of the above-mentioned continents: from Alaska (northwestern North America) to the island of Tierra del Fuego, which is located near Antarctica.

National parks in the Cordillera

The Cordillera is one of the highest mountains in the world. Only the Himalayas, as well as several other mountain systems in central Asia, exceed them in height. The influence of these mountains on the formation of the culture, traditions, and way of life of the people of America is difficult to overestimate. In the territory where the Cordillera is located, entire Indian civilizations arose, unique in their development and cultural heritage. And on a planetary scale mountain range The Cordillera is the watershed between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.

Int. Some of them are formed by plateaus, highlands and plateaus - Yukon, Fraser, Columbian, Colorado, Mexican. To the Center America's Cordilleras include the ridges to the west. coast, incl. hr. Sierra Madre with Tajumulco volcano (4217 m, highest point Center. America). Glaciers occupy approx. 80 thousand km²; most of them are in the mountains of Alaska. To the east Evergreen tropical forests grow on the periphery of the Mexican Highlands, in the Cordillera Center. America - deciduous tropical forests, thorny bushes, cactus thickets and secondary savannas.

In the Cordillera Center. America and the West Indies are distinguished by three mountain arcs: the northern arc follows through the Cayman Islands to Cuba (Sierra Maestra Mountains), Haiti (Central Southern parts of the internal plateaus are occupied by dry steppes and deserts. Cordillera - Cordillera, Colorado River. CORDILLERA , the largest mountain system on the globe in terms of length (more than 18 thousand km), stretching along the western edges of North and South America.

Orography. In K.S.A. three longitudinal belts are clearly expressed - eastern, internal and western. To the west extend the myo- and eugeosynclinal troughs of the mesozoids of the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains (Nevadids). To the west of the Mesozoid on the Alaska Peninsula and in the Coast Ranges of California and Oregon, as well as in southern Central America, the Cenozoic geosynclinal system extends.

Another type is volcanic ridges that have a folded base, complicated by a series of volcanoes planted on it, including active ones. On the northern slopes of the Chugach and St. Elias mountains, the snow line is at an altitude of 1800-1900 m, on the Alaska Range - from 1350-1500 m ( southern slope) up to 2250-2400 m (northern slope).

Rivers and lakes. Within the K.S.A. lie the sources of many river systems of the mainland: Yukon, Peace River - Mackenzie, Saskatchewan - Nelson, Missouri - Mississippi, Colorado, Columbia, Fraser. The largest changes in landscapes are associated with the latitudinal position of the mountain system, with its transition from the subarctic zone to the temperate, subtropical and tropical. There are 4 main natural regions: the Northwestern, Canadian Cordillera, US Cordillera and Mexican Cordillera.

To the south, the snow line rises to 1500-1800 m in the Coast Range and up to 2250 m in the Columbia Mountains of Canada. Cordillera (See Cordillera), occupying western North America and extending within the United States proper and Alaska, Canada and Mexico.

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