The Andes, whose height is simply amazing, can rightly be called one of the wonders of our planet. These mountains border the entire western coast of South America, and besides, they are a powerful natural barrier separating the mainland and the Pacific Ocean. What is the absolute height of the highest point of the Andes? And why is this mountain system unique?
Controversial issue
Many geographers consider the Andes to be part of the Cordillera mountain system, which stretches along the western coast of North and South America and has a total length of 18,000 kilometers. Therefore, they are even called the Southern Cordillera. The thing is that this mountain range clearly has a common origin. It is believed that it arose when both parts of America began to move east.
Other scientists call Cordillera only mountains in the Northern Hemisphere. The Andes are distinguished as an independent system. Their arguments are based on the fact that the Cordillera differ in both relief and position above sea level. Therefore, the highest point of the Andes is Mount Aconcagua (6962 meters). The Cordillera cannot boast of such indicators: Mount McKinley, which is located in Alaska, risesup to 6194 meters. And if you agree with the first opinion, then Mount Aconcagua, and not McKinley, should be considered the highest point of the Cordillera.
But if we talk about the Andes, their height in any case does not change its indicators. The summit of Aconcagua rises above the entire western hemisphere. It is also striking that the average height of the mountains (Andes) is 4000 m, despite the fact that they extend 9000 km (!) in length and up to 750 km in width. Even from space you can see such a huge stone massif with snow-capped peaks. Among other things, the Andes is also the highest mountain system on Earth.
History of occurrence
It is believed that the Andes began to emerge in the Paleozoic and Precambrian era, and finally formed during the Jurassic period. Scientists suggest that at first land areas appeared from the ocean, which eventually went under water again, and this was repeated periodically.
As a result, layers of marine sediments several kilometers thick accumulated on the continental shelves. Over tens of thousands of years, they hardened, turning into deposits of stone. Further, under pressure, they were pushed out in the form of huge folds. All this was accompanied by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The entire process of relief formation was completed by the general uplift of the entire system.
Young mountains
The Andes are classified as Alpine folding (the era of tectogenesis in the Cenozoic). Therefore, despite their considerable age (60 million years are attributed to them), they are considered young mountains. Their peers are the Himalayas, the Pamirs, the Caucasus,Alps. Therefore, there are many seismically dangerous zones in the Andes, and some volcanoes are active. This is due to the fact that the mountains have not yet completed their formation process and are still growing. The average speed is 10 cm per year.
As a result of this movement of the earth's crust, the Andes often experience earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and the convergence of glaciers. Unfortunately, serious disasters occur in the Andes with a frightening cycle - once every 10-15 years. Not so long ago (in 2010), the world was rocked by the earthquake in Chile, which affected millions of people.
Relative and absolute height: what's the difference
Speaking about the height of the Andes, it should be clarified how the absolute height differs from the relative one. The first is the distance from sea level to the highest point of the feature. The second is calculated from the foot of the mountain to the top. It goes without saying that the relative value will always be less than the absolute value.
This rule is confirmed by the Andes. The height of Aconcagua from sea level is 6962 meters, and from the foot - 6138 meters, that is, 824 meters less than the absolute one. This, by the way, is of great importance for climbers, because the real distance that they need to overcome is equal to relative indicators. But the state of he alth, which depends on atmospheric pressure and temperature minimum, is determined by the absolute height. Experienced climbers never ignore these numbers.
Height of the Andes relative to the Amazonian lowlands
If you look at South America in a section, then the relief of its surface is verypeculiar. There is a rather large amplitude between the minimum and maximum indicators here.
The Amazon lowland is the largest on the planet, its area covers 5 million square kilometers. Its average absolute height is less than 200 meters above sea level. But there are parts, especially near the Atlantic coast and in the center of the mainland, that rise no more than 100 meters. And the minimum is 10 meters above sea level. The surface rises as it approaches the western part of the continent. Maximum performance - 150-250 meters.
So how high is the Andes relative to the Amazonian lowlands? If we take into account only the difference in average heights, then this is already impressive: a drop from 200 to 4000 meters - and this is all at a width of about 5000 kilometers.
Given the maximum variation in absolute heights, it turns out that the rise of the surface ranges from 10 meters to almost 7 kilometers. This could not but affect the climate and atmospheric pressure zones, but more on that below.
Andes: absolute height and coordinates of the highest point
Aconcagua is located in Argentina. The etymology of this name is not exactly known, but it may be derived from the words "acon caguac", which means "stone guard" in the Quechua language.
The navigator will help you get to the foot of Aconcagua, and then conquer the peak of the Andes mountain system. The absolute height and coordinates of the highest point are indicated to the nearest meter and minute: the top lies on6962 meters above sea level and is located at 32°39'S. sh. 70°00'W e.
Main picks
The Andes can boast of 13 six-thousanders. Here is a list of them:
- Aconcagua (6962 m).
- Ojos del Salado (6893 m). This is the highest volcano in the world. It is located on the border between Argentina and Chile.
- Pisis (6795 m). It is located in the most picturesque part of the Andes. In the neighborhood of it lie the most beautiful lakes and glaciers.
- Bonete (6759 m). Located near Laguna Brava National Park.
- Tres Cruzes (6749 m). This is also a volcano with three peaks. Nearby is the national park of the same name.
- Huascaran (6746 m). The highest mountain in Peru.
- Lulaillako (6739 m). This is the highest place in the world where the remains of an ancient civilization have been discovered. Archaeologists have found three Inca mummies here.
- Mercedario (6700 m). This is a huge glacier, from which many mountain rivers originate.
- W alter Penk (6658 m). This volcano is named after its German explorer who worked here in the late 19th century.
- Incahuasi (6638 m). This mountain was a place of worship for the Incas.
- Yerupaya (6617 m). In translation, the name sounds like "white dawn", perhaps due to the eternal snows that cover the peak.
- Tupungato (6570 m). Located on the border of Chile and Argentina, 80 kilometers from Aconcagua.
- Sayama (6542 m). This is the highest point in Bolivia.
Regions
Because the described mountain systemtoo stretched in length, then three main landscape zones are distinguished in it: Northern, Southern and Central Andes.
The first of them consists of three massifs: Caribbean (located on the territory of Venezuela), Northwestern (Colombia - Venezuela) and Ecuadorian (they are also called Equatorial) Andes. It is interesting that these mountains go into the sea - islands such as Bonaire, Aruba and Curacao are actually peaks that have not yet risen from the depths. This part of the Andes features the world's highest chain of volcanoes, some of which are still active.
If we talk about the central landscape zone, then there, in addition to the main part itself, one can also distinguish the Peruvian Andes. Here is the highest capital of the world - the city of La Paz (Bolivia), built at an altitude of 3700 m.
The width of the Andes in this part reaches its maximum: 750 km. A large area is occupied by the Puna Plateau, the average heights of which range from 3.7 to 4 kilometers. Also in the Central Andes is the second peak after Aconcagua - Ojos del Salado. There are many six-thousanders here. All of them have one interesting feature - a very high snow line (starts from 6500 m). This part is characterized by alpine lakes, the most famous of them is Titicaca, resting at an altitude of 3821 m.
Despite the fact that it is here that the famous peak is located, in general, the Southern region of the mountains is much lower than the Central. The height of the Andes in meters is clearly on the decline here. Accordingly, the snow line also decreases (the peaks starting from 1500 m lie under the white cover). When diving into the oceanthey take on a different look: they transform into archipelagos and islands. The predominant heights of the Andes mountains on Tierra del Fuego, which is also covered with ridges, are significantly lower (up to 2500 m).
Climate
The northern part of the mountains lies in the subequatorial and equatorial climatic zone. The first is characterized by alternating wet and dry seasons. The eastern slopes are abundantly moist, while the western slopes are characterized by a drier climate. In the Caribbean Andes, the air is almost tropical. The annual rainfall is very low. But the Ecuadorian Andes are more stable in terms of temperature: there the thermometer needle basically stands still all year round. This is enjoyed by the inhabitants of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. This area is very well hydrated.
In the Central Andes, the climate is very harsh due to the large difference in humidity between the western and eastern slopes of the mountains. Here is the Atacama - the driest desert in the world, where no more than 50 mm of precipitation falls per year.
The southern Andes lie in the subtropical zone, which smoothly passes into the temperate climate zone. Due to strong winds, the amount of precipitation here reaches 6000 mm. This is not surprising, since it rains almost 200 days a year on the south coast.
Climbing Aconcagua
Aconcagua is second in the list of the Seven Peaks. Second only to Everest. Matthias Jurbiggen is considered the first conqueror of the Andes summit, who made the ascent in 1897.
Compared to other peaks, climbing Aconcagua is considered technically easy, especially withnorth side. Unlike climbing Everest, oxygen tanks are not required to conquer the Andes - the altitude here is 2000 m lower.
Records
Despite the possibility of sudden storms, every year about 5,000 daredevils try to reach the summit and be at the highest point of the entire western hemisphere. Records already set.
For example, the fastest ascent (5 hours 45 minutes) was made in 1991. Apparently, interest in the Andes has increased again recently, as several records have been set at once, and almost one after another. So, in 2013, 9-year-old American schoolboy Tyler Armstrong became the youngest representative of the stronger sex to master the summit of Aconcagua. And 12-year-old Romanian Jeta Popescu gave a decent answer in February 2016.
At the same time, Spaniard Fernanda Maciel took first place in the list of the fastest complete (top - descent - top) ascents, having done it in 14 hours and 20 minutes. A similar record for men's rise was recorded a year earlier. The greatest height of the mountains (Andes) succumbed to climber Karl Egloff, who managed in 11 hours 52 minutes.
Also surprising is another fact: at a distance of 4400 meters from sea level is the highest art gallery in the world. It is located in the base camp of Plaza de Mulas. It exhibits the work of contemporary Argentine artist Miguel Doura. Apparently, climbers are provided with leisure.
Ancient civilization in the Andes
It is believed that people have mastered the highlands as early as 4000 years ago, at least that is how it dates from the first archaeological excavations. Yes, the Andes hide many mysteries! Their height, apparently, did not at all frighten the Incas, who built an entire civilization here.
The archeological complex of Sacsayhuaman (3700 m) is especially perplexing for researchers, the fortress of which consists of huge processed stones weighing up to 200 tons. And just below (3500 m) is the ancient agricultural laboratory of Morai, where the Incas most likely conducted experiments with plants.
The Andes can truly be called a treasure of the world, because they keep both the we alth of breathtaking landscapes and the mysteries of ancient human history.
