The Andes, whose height is simply amazing, can rightfully be called one of the wonders of our planet. These mountains border the entire western coast of South America, and also, 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 what is unique about this mountain system?
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 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 are distinguished by both relief and position above sea level. Consequently, the highest point of the Andes is Mount Aconcagua (6962 meters). Cordillera cannot boast of such indicators: Mount McKinley, which is located in Alaska, rises 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 top 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 stretch for a length of 9000 km (!), And in width - up to 750 km. Even from space you can see such a huge rock mass with snow-capped peaks. Among other things, the Andes are also the highest mountain system of the Earth.
History of occurrence
It is believed that the Andes began to arise in the Paleozoic and Precambrian era, and finally formed during the Jurassic period. Scientists suggest that at first plots of land appeared from the ocean, which eventually again went under water, and this was repeated periodically.
As a result, layers of marine sediments several kilometers thick accumulated on the continental shelves. For tens of thousands of years, they have solidified, 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 whole process of forming the relief was completed by the general raising 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 (they are credited with 60 million years), they are considered young mountains. Their peers are the Himalayas, the Pamirs, the Caucasus, the 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 such a movement of the earth's crust, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and the convergence of glaciers often occur in the Andes. Unfortunately, serious disasters occur in the Andes with frightening cycles - once every 10-15 years. Not so long ago (in 2010), the world was shocked by the earthquake in Chile, which affected millions of people.
Relative and absolute height: what is the difference
Speaking about the height of the Andes, it should be clarified how the absolute height differs from relative. The first is the distance from sea level to the highest point of the object. 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 absolute.
This rule is also 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 absolute. 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 well-being, depending on atmospheric pressure and temperature minimum, is determined by the absolute height. Experienced climbers never ignore these numbers.
Andes height relative to the Amazonian lowlands
If you look at the cross section of South America, then the relief of its surface is very peculiar. Here a rather large amplitude is observed between the minimum and maximum indicators.
The Amazon Lowland is the largest on the planet, with an area of 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. The maximum performance is 150-250 meters.
So what is the height of the Andes relative to the Amazonian lowlands? If we take into account only the difference in average heights, then this is already impressive: the difference is from 200 to 4000 meters - and this is all at a width of about 5000 kilometers.
Given the maximum spread in absolute heights, it turns out that the rise of the surface is 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 highest point coordinates
Aconcagua is located in Argentina. The etymology of this name is not known exactly, perhaps it comes from the words "akon kaguak", which in the language of the Quechua tribe means "stone guard".
The navigator will help 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 with an accuracy of a meter and a minute: the peak lies at 6962 meters above sea level and is located at 32 ° 39 ′. w. 70 ° 00 ′ z d.
The main peaks
The Andes boast 13th six thousandths. Here is a list of them:
- Aconcagua (6962 m).
- Ojos del Salado (6893 m). It is the highest volcano in the world. It is located on the border between Argentina and Chile.
- Pisis (6795 m). Located in the most picturesque part of the Andes. In the vicinity of it lie beautiful lakes and glaciers.
- Bonete (6759 m). Located near the Laguna Brava National Park.
- Tres Cruces (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 of Peru.
- Lulayllako (6739 m). This is the highest place in the world where the remains of an ancient civilization are discovered. Archaeologists have found here three Inca mummies.
- Mercedario (6700 m). This is a huge glacier from which many mountain rivers originate.
- Walter Penk (6658 m). This volcano is named after its researcher from Germany, who worked here at the end of the 19th century.
- Inkahuasi (6638 m). This mountain was a place of worship among the Incas.
- Jerupaya (6617 m). In translation, the name sounds like "white dawn", possibly due to the eternal snows covering the peak.
- Tupungato (6570 m). Located on the border of Chile and Argentina, 80 kilometers from Aconcagua.
- Sayyama (6542 m). This is the highest point of Bolivia.
Regions
Since the described mountain system is too long, it distinguishes three main landscape zones: the Northern, Southern and Central Andes.
The first of them consists of three massifs: the Caribbean (located on the territory of Venezuela), the Northwest (Colombia - Venezuela) and the Ecuadorian (they are also called Equatorial) Andes. Interestingly, these mountains go to sea - islands such as Bonaire, Aruba and Curacao are actually peaks that have not yet risen from the depths. This part of the Andes is characterized by the world's highest chain of volcanoes, some of which are still active.
If we talk about the central landscape zone, then, in addition to the main part itself, the Peruvian Andes can also be distinguished. 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 performance: 750 km. A large area is occupied by the Pune plateau, whose average heights 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 thousandths here. All of them have one interesting feature - a very high snow line (starting from 6500 m). This part is characterized by high mountain lakes, the most famous of which is Titicaca, resting at an altitude of 3821 m.
Despite the fact that this is where the famous peak is located, in general, the southern region of the mountains is much lower than the central one. The height of the Andes in meters here is clearly declining. Accordingly, the snow line also decreases (peaks starting from 1500 m also lie under the white cover). When immersed in the ocean, they acquire a different look: they are transformed into archipelagos and islands. The predominant heights of the Andes in Tierra del Fuego, which is also covered by 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 the alternation of wet and dry seasons. The eastern slopes are abundantly humidified, while the western ones have a drier climate. In the Caribbean, the Andes are almost tropical. The annual rainfall is very small. And now the Ecuadorian Andes are more stable with respect to temperature: there the thermometer needle basically stands still all year round. This is what the people of Quito, the capital of Ecuador, enjoy. This area is very well moistened.
In the Central Andes, the climate is very harsh due to the large difference in humidity on the western and eastern slopes of the mountains. Here is Atacama - the driest desert in the world, where no more than 50 mm of precipitation falls during the year.
The southern Andes lie in the subtropic zone, which smoothly passes into the temperate climatic zone. Due to strong winds, the amount of precipitation here reaches 6000 mm. This is not surprising, because on the south coast it rains almost 200 days a year.
Climbing Aconcagua
Aconcagua is second in the list of Seven Peaks. Only Everest yields to her. The first conqueror of the Andes peak is considered to be Matthias Jurbiggen, who climbed in 1897.
Compared to other peaks, climbing to Aconcagua is considered technically easy, especially from the north. Unlike the conquest of Everest, oxygen cylinders are not necessary to conquer the Andes - the altitude here is less than 2000 m.
Highscores
Despite the possibility of sudden storms, every year about 5,000 daredevils try to reach the top and find themselves at the highest point of the entire western hemisphere. Already set records.
For example, the fastest climb (5 hours 45 minutes) was carried out in 1991. Apparently, recently interest in the Andes has increased again, as several records have been set at once, and almost one after another. So, in 2013, a 9-year-old American student Tyler Armstrong became the youngest man to overpower the top of Aconcagua. And the 12-year-old Romanian Jeta Popescu gave a decent answer in February 2016.
At the same time, the Spaniard Fernanda Masiel took first place in the list of the fastest complete (top - descent - top) ascents, having done this in 14 hours 20 minutes. A similar record of male recovery was recorded a year earlier. The highest altitude of the mountains (Andes) succumbed to the climber Karl Egloff, who managed in 11 hours 52 minutes.
Another fact is surprising: 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 the Plaza de Mulas. The works of modern Argentine artist Miguel Doura are exhibited there. Apparently, climbers are provided with leisure.
Ancient civilization in the Andes
It is believed that people mastered the highlands 4,000 years ago, at least, this dates back to the first archaeological site. Yes, many mysteries are hidden in the Andes! Their height, apparently, did not scare the Incas at all, who built a whole civilization here.
Researchers are especially puzzled by the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Complex (3,700 m), the fortress of which consists of huge processed stones weighing up to 200 tons. And a little lower (3500 m) is the ancient agricultural laboratory Morai, where the Incas, most likely, conducted experiments with plants.
The Andes can truly be called the property of the world, because they preserve both the wealth of landscapes from which are breathtaking, and the mysteries of the ancient history of mankind.