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Andes Mountains
Alan Brown
Physical Geology
Spring 2008
The Andes Mountains
South America contains some of the most beautiful natural wonders in
the world. Among them are the sand dunes of southern Peru, the Amazon Jungle,
the Amazon River, and of course, the Andes Mountains. The Andes form the
world’s longest mountain range. They lie as a continuous mountain chain along
the western coast of South America. The mountain range extends along seven
countries known as the Andean States. For thousands of years these mountains
have provided essential elements for the survival of the locals. In this essay
I will talk about the Andes Mountains, their importance to the region, and how
they were formed.
I’ve been fortunate to have experienced these mountains in real life. That is why I chose this topic; they are the most impressive mountains I have ever witnessed. I have lived inthe Andean cities of Bogota and Medellin, located in Colombia, and Quito, Ecuador. I also traveled by land through the countries of Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. During my stay in Ecuador I was able to camp out just above 16,000 feet altitude on Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. I truly learned what it is to experience a lack of oxygen; every step becomes an effort.
Cotopaxi
In Peru, I visited the ancient Inca City of Machu Pichu,perched high in the
Andes Mountains. During my travels, I realized how magnificent this mountain
chain really was. I also understood how important the mountains are to the
local population, for many, regarded as sacred. Basically everything from food
to water to clothes is acquired from the land. This mountain chain is truly one
of the natural wonders of the world.
Machu Pichu
The Andes form the worlds longest exposed mountain range. It is over forty four
hundred miles long, and three hundred miles wide at some parts. It spans across
the countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and
Argentina. The mountain range sits at an average height of thirteen thousand
feet. They are the highest range outside of Asia. The Andes do not match the
Himalayas in height, but do so in width and are more than twice the
length. The islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, which lie on the Caribbean
Sea off the coast of Venezuela, represent the submerged peaks of the northern
edge of the Andes Mountains.
The highest peak is Aconcagua; it lies on the border between Chile and Argentina
at the staggering height of twenty two thousand eight
hundred forty one feet. Because of the equatorial bulge, the summit of Mount
Chimborazo in the Ecuadorian Andes is the point on the Earth’s surface most
distant from the center of the core.
Chimborazo
The Andes Mountains are composed primarily of two great ranges, the “Cordillera Oriental” and the “Cordillera Occidental.” Translated from Spanish it means Western Range and Eastern Range. These are often separated by a deep intermediate depression. Often, small chains form on the side of the great chain. The Andes Mountains are also home to Lake Titicaca. This massive lake located on the border between Bolivia and Peru is the highest navigable lake in the world. The lake is home to some of the largest trout known.
Lake Titicaca
The name “Andes” has many theories about its etymology. Some believe it comes
from the word “anti” which in Quechua, the local native language, means “high
crest.” Others believe it comes from one of the four regions of the Inca
Empire. Some credit the Spanish for the word “Anden” which means “terrace,” for
the practices used by the Incas and other local peoples of terracing the land.
Plate tectonics are responsible for the existence of the Andes
Mountains. It all started around the Jurassic period but it wasn’t until the
Cretaceous period that the Andes began to take their present form. The mountain
chain lies on the South American tectonic plate. Next to the South American
Plate lays the Nazca Plate. The Peru-Chile oceanic trench marks the boundary
between the two plates. The Nazca Plate and part of the Antarctic Plate slide
beneath the South American Plate. This causes the western part of the South
American Plate to rise. As a result, the area is prone to earthquakes and
volcanoes. During my trip of South America, while visiting the coastal Peruvian
city of Arequipa located right along the Nazca and South American fault, an
earthquake hit the area causing much damage. The main impact lasted about a
minute. The whole night the hotel would tremor just a little in small
intervals. This was very exciting for me at the time.
The Andes Mountains
The Climate of the Andes can vary greatly depending on the location, proximity
to the sea, and altitude. The mountains have a large effect on the climate of
the area. The northern part of the Andes (Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador) are
typically rainy and warm. The Central Andes (Peru, and Bolivia) are dry. The
Southern Andes (Chile, and Argentina) are rainy and cool. The climate in the
Andes is well known to change drastically in a short period of time. During the
morning, the sky will be blue with no clouds in sight, but in the afternoon,
storms can set in. Wind can be very powerful in this area; airplanes usually
experience a high amount of turbulence when flying over the Andes.
The Andes Mountains are extremely rich in fauna and flora. There is over thirty
thousand species of plants. Most of these are small in size to conserve
energy. The leaves are, most of the time, stiff and strong to protect them from
the frost caused by the high altitude. Over half of them are common throughout
the highlands. There are almost six hundred known species of mammals, more than
seventeen hundred species of birds, over six hundred species of reptiles,
and almost four hundred species of fish. The reptiles found in the Andes are
different from most cold-blooded creatures; they have adapted to withstand the
extreme weather conditions. The Andean Condor, the largest bird of its kind,
resides in the Andes. Locals domesticate the Llama and Alpaca as pack animals;
they are widely used for meat and wool.
Condor Llama
In the lowlands of the Andes, where the cloud forests are located, different
species of animals exist; from cougars, bears, and yellow tailed monkeys, to
mountain toucans, quetzals, and frogs. Most everything can be found in the
cloud forests of the Andes.
The Andes Mountains are full of different kinds of minerals, many of
which are mined and extracted. Gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin, are the
main production minerals. The Andes are one of the most important sources of
these raw materials on a worldwide level.
In conclusion, the Andes Mountains are the most astounding, beautiful, and relaxing natural wonder I have ever witnessed. I feel very fortunate to have observed it first-hand. The mesmerizing power of the geography transcends any experience I’ve ever had. Any description, no matter how good, cannot give total justice to this natural marvel. The Andes Mountains represent a Mecca for any mountain climber. I recommend the Andes to anyone. The Andes Mountains have been around for over a hundred million years, they have seen much history, and I have been fortunate to been a small part of it.
Bibliography
1) www.virtualology.com/hallofgeology/mountains/andesmountains.net/
2) www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/salnd.htm
3) www.blueplanetbiomes.org/andes_climate_page.htm
4)
www.southamericatravel.suite101.com/article.cfm/andes_mountains
5)
www.ecotourismguru.com/Andes.html