When I chose my location, I assumed that the Andes Mountains were located in Peru, boy was I off. The Andes Mountains are considered the longest mountain range in the world. It spans 4500 miles across seven different countries, including, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Besides the Himalayas, the Andes Mountains are one of the tallest mountains in the world. The average elevation is 13,000 feet high and the tallest peak, Mount Aconcagua in Argentina is 22,841 feet high. Due to the difference in elevations and locations, there are various ranges of climate and weather in the Andes Mountains.
Climate and Weather
There is
very diverse weather that surrounds the Andes Mountains and the countries that
surround them, for example, the Northern side of Chile is extremely dry, while
the Southern side of Chile is very humid. Whereas, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador
experience humid, tropical climates. As a result, Peru and Ecuador have wet and
dry, tropical climates, which brings rainfall in the summer and dry winters.
Colombia is an especially tropical, wet location with constant rainfall (“The
Andes Mountains Biomes”). The warm, moist air rises vertically and
adiabatically, which then condenses forming cumulonimbus and cumulus clouds,
allowing for that daily rainfall.
Rain Shadow
 |
| Rain shadow between Chile and Argentina |
The Andes
Mountains are truly unique, not only in size and greatness and the varying weather
and climate, but also for being home to tropical glaciers, including the largest
ice cap in the world. The Quelccaya ice cap is located in Peru, which is a wonder
of nature given the climate that surrounds the glacier. Perhaps something to
explore next!
Work Cited
Work Cited
