The Andes are the longest mountain range in the world, stretching 7,250 kilometers (4,200 miles) down the southern half of the world. The Andes run north to the warm equator, and stretch south towards Cape Horn and Patagonia, a windy, cold, semi-desert where the winter temperatures stay below freezing. The southern tip of the Andes is not far from Antartica, home of the south pole!



The name "Andes" comes from a native word whose meaning is unkown today. The tallest peak is Mt. Aconcagua, a giant volcano towering 6,959 meters (22,831 feet) above sea level. The Andes mountains have been formed by one of the crustal plates of the Pacific ocean floor pushing slowly against the American continental plate. This pressure has caused the sedimentary rocks to bend and fold up into long ridges, called "sierras". Most of the highest mountains in the Andes are volcanoes, some still active, many dormant or extinct. Eruptions and strong earthquakes can cause landslides on the steep slopes. Rich minerals formed here include gold, silver, tin, copper, platinum, lead, and zinc.