The Square of the Mountains Andes. Cordillera: "Grand Mountain Chains

Andes are a major interconnected watershed. East of the Andes flow the river basin of the Atlantic Ocean. Amazon itself originates in Andachs and many of its major tributaries, as well as sorinc and paraguays, parana, Magdalena River and the Patagonia River. To the west of the Andes, there are mainly short rivers belonging to the pool of the Pacific Ocean.

Andes also serve as the most important climatic barrier in South America, an insulating territory to the west of the main Cordillera from the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, east of the influence of the Pacific Ocean.

Mountains lie in 5 climatic belts:

• equatorial
• subetervatorial
• tropical
• subtropical
• moderate.

They are distinguished by sharp contrasts in moisturizing oriental (led) and Western (windward) slopes.

Due to the considerable length of the Andes, their individual landscape parts differ from each other. According to the nature of the relief and other natural differences, there are usually three main regions - the Northern, Central and South Andes.

Andes stretched through the territory of the 7 states of South America:

• Venezuela,
• Colombia,
• Ecuador,
• Peru,
• Bolivia,
• Chile,
• Argentina.

Vegetation and soil

The soil and vegetable cover of the Andes is very diverse. This is due to the large altitudes of mountains, a significant difference in moisture in the western and eastern slopes. High-rise explanation in Andes is pronounced clearly. Three high-rise belts are isolated - Tierra Caliente, Tierra Fria and Tierra Elay.

In the Andes of Venezuela, leaf falling forests and shrubs on mountain red soils grow.

The lower parts of the windward slopes from the North-Western Andes to the central Andes are covered with mining wet equatorial and tropical forests in the latic soils (mountain pillars), as well as mixed forests from evergreen and deciduous rocks. The appearance of the equatorial forests differs little from the appearance of these forests in the flat part of the mainland; Various palm trees, ficuses, bananas, cocoa wood, etc.

Higher (up to heights of 2500-3000 m) the nature of vegetation changes; Typical bamboo, tree ferns, Coca shrub (which is a source of cocaine), a chinny tree.

Between 3000 m and 3800 m - alpine hyiley with low-spirited trees and shrubs; Epiphyts and lianas are common, characterized by bamboo, tree fern, evergreen oaks, myrth, heers.

Above - mainly xerophytic vegetation, paramos, with numerous comprehensive; Moss swamps in flat areas and lifeless stony spaces on steep slopes.

Above 4500 m is the belt of eternal snow and ice.

South, in subtropical Chilean Andes - evergreen shrubs on brown soils.

In the longitudinal valley - soil, according to the composition of reminiscent blacks.

The vegetation of high-mountain plateau: in the north - Mountain equatorial meadows Paramos, in Peruvian Andes and East Puna - Dry Alpine-Tropical Steppes Hulk, in the West Punes and in the Outside of the Pacific West Between 5-28 ° Southern Litness - Desert Types of Vegetation (Atacama Desert - Succulent vegetation and cacti). Many surfaces are sleeping, which prevents the development of vegetation; At such sites there are mainly wormwood and ephedra.

Above 3000 m (approximately 4500 m) - semi-desert vegetation, called dry powder; Dwarf shrubs (Toloch), cereals (Kickl, Wein) are growing, lichen, cacti.

East of the main Cordillera, where more precipitation is the steppe vegetation (PUN) with numerous cereals (Titchak, Kovyl, Vein) and pillow-shaped shrubs.

On the wet slopes of Eastern Cordillera, tropical forests (palm trees, a woody tree) rise to 1500 m, up to 3000 m reach the lowest evergreen forests with a predominance of bamboo, fern, lian; At large altitudes - alpine steppes.

The typical inhabitant of the Andean highland is Polypis - the plant of a family of rosetic, common in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Chile; These trees are found at an altitude of 4500 m.

In the middle of Chile, forests are largely reduced; Once the forests climbed at the main Cordillera to heights of 2500-3000 m (the mountain meadows began above alpine herbs and shrubs, as well as rare peat swamps), but now the slopes of the mountains are practically bare. Now the forests are found only in the form of separate groves (pines, araucaria, eucalyptus, beech and planenes, in the undergrowth - geranium and geranium).

On the slopes of the Patagonian Andes South 38 ° Yu.Sh. - subarctic multi-tiered forests from high-power trees and shrubs, mostly evergreen, on the brown forests (south of apodulated) soils; In the forests a lot of moss, lichens and lian; South of 42 ° Yu.Sh. - Mixed forests (in the area of \u200b\u200b42 ° Yu.Sh. there is an array of arakarium forests). Buki, magnolia, tree fern, high-ranking coniferous, bamboo grow. On the eastern slopes of Patagonian Andes - mostly beech forests. At the extreme south of Patagonian Andes - tundra vegetation.

In the extreme southern part of the Andes, on the fiery land, forests (from deciduous and evergreen trees - for example, the southern beaks and canned) occupy only a narrow coastal strip in the West; Above the border of the forest almost immediately begins the snow belt. In the East and places in the West, the subnutrctic mountain meadows and peatlands are common.

Andes are the homeland of a fry tree, coca, tobacco, potatoes, tomatoes and other valuable plants.

Animal world

The animal world of the northern part of the Andes enters the Brazilian zogeographic area and is similar from the fauna adjacent plains.

The animal world of Andes to the south of 5 ° south latitude refers to the Chilean-Patagonian subdomain. Fauna Andes In general, the abundance of endemic genera and species.

Lama and Alpaca dwells in Andes (representatives of these two species are used by the local population for obtaining wool and meat, as well as cooked animals), clutched monkeys, relicy spectacle bear, deer Pudi and Gaemal (who are endemics of Andes), Vicunya, Guanako, Azarov Fox , sloths, chinchillas, silent opossums, amusements, rodents are degu.

In the south - Blue Fox, Magellanova Dog, endemic rodent Tuko-Tuko et al. Many birds, among them - Hummingbirds, occurring and at altitudes of more than 4000 m, but especially numerous and varied in "Misty Forests" (Wet Tropical Forests Colombia, Ecuador , Peru, Bolivia and the extreme of the North-West of Argentina, located in the condensation band of fogs); endemic condor rising to a height of up to 7 thousand m; et al. Some species (as, for example, chinchillas, in the XIX - early XX century, intensively exterminated for the sake of obtaining the scooters; Break-free Chomgi and Titicaky whistles, found only at Lake Titicaca; etc.) are threatened with disappearance.

The feature of the Andes is a large species diversity of amphibians (over 900 species). Also in Andes there are about 600 species of mammals (13% endemics), over 1,700 species of birds (of which 33.6% endemic) and about 400 species freshwater fish (34.5% endemics).

Ecology

One of the main environmental problems of the Andes is to reduce forests that are no longer renewed; The wet rainforests of Colombia were especially injured, which are intensively reduced under the plantations of the fry and coffee tree, rubberos.

Possessing developed agricultureAndian countries face the problems of soil degradation, soil pollution by chemicals, erosion, as well as the desertification of land due to livestock overlap (especially on the territory of Argentina).

Environmental problems of coastal zones - pollution of sea water near ports and large cities (caused by not least emissions to the ocean of sewage waste and industrial garbage), uncontrolled fish catch in large volumes.

As with all over the world, there is an acute problem in the emergence of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere (mainly in electricity generation, as well as in the enterprises of black metallurgy). Significant contributions to environmental pollution are also made by refineries, oil wells and mines (their activities lead to soil erosion, pollution underground water; The activities of the Shadagonia mines have fallen in trouble on the bio of the terrain).

Due to a number of environmental problems, many types of animals and plants in Andes are under threat of disappearance.

sights

• Lake Titicaca;
• Lauka National Park;
• Chiloe National Park; to the National Park Cape Horn;
• Santa Fe de Bogota: Catholic churches of the XVI-XVIII century, National Museum of Columbia;
• Quito: Cathedral, Museum of Musical Instruments, Museum of Del Banco-Central;
• Cusco: Cupcil Cathedral, Church of La Campa-Nya, Hightun-Rumiyok Street (the remains of the buildings of the Inca);
• Lima: Archaeological zones of Uak Walmairka and Waka Puklyan, Archbishop Palace, Church and Monastery of San Francisco;
• Archaeological Complexes: Machu Picchu, Pachakamak, Ruins of the city of Kararal, Saksayuaman, Tambo-shop, Pukapukar, Kenko, Pisak, Oljantambo, Morai, Pikillock Ruins.

• The capital of Bolivia is the city of La Paz - the most high-altitude capital in the world. It is located at an altitude of 3600 m above sea level.
• 200 km north of the city of Lima (Peru) are the ruins of the city of Kararal - temples, amphitheaters, houses and pyramids. It is believed that Kararal belonged to the ancient civilization of America and was built about 4000-4500 years ago. Archaeological excavations showed that the city led trade with extensive territories of the continent South America. It is especially interesting that archaeologists did not find any evidence of military conflicts for about a thousand years in the history of Karala.
• One of the most mysterious monuments of history in the world is the monumental archaeological complex of Saksayuaman, located north-west of Cusco, at a height of about 3,700 meters above sea level. The same fortress of this complex is attributed to the Inca civilization. However, it was not yet possible to establish how the stones of these walls were treated, weighing up to 200 tons and fitted to each other with jewelry accuracy. Also, the ancient system of underground strokes is not fully investigated.
• The archaeological complex of Morai, located 74 kilometers from Cusco at an altitude of 3,500 meters, still causes admiration not only by archaeologists. Here, huge terraces, falling, form a kind of amphitheater. Studies have shown that this construction was used by the Incas as an agricultural laboratory as different height The terraces made it possible to observe plants in different climatic conditions and experiment with them. It used for different soils and a complex irrigation system, in total incons grown 250 species of plants.

Empire Incov

The Inca Empire in Andes is one of the most mysterious disappeared states. The tragic fate of the highly developed civilization, which appeared in far from the most favorable natural conditions and the victims of the casual aliens, still worries humanity.

The era of the great geographical discoveries (the XV-XVII centuries) gave the opportunity to European adventurers quickly and fabulously get rich in new lands. Most often, brutal and unprincipled, conquistadors rushed to America not by the sake of scientific discoveries and cultural exchanges between civilizations.

The fact that the Papal Thicket in 1537 recognized the Indians spiritualized beings, did not change anything in the methods of conquistadors - they were not interested in theological disputes. By the time of the "humane" papal solution, Konkistador Francisco Pisarro has already managed to execute the emperor Inca Ataualpu (1533), defeat the army of the Incas and seize the capital of the Empire Cusco (1536).

There is a version that at first the Indians accepted the Spaniards for the gods. And it is possible that the main reason for this error was not white skin of the aliens, not the fact that they were sacrificed with riding unprecedented animals, and not even what they had a firearm. Inca struck the incredible cruelty of conquistadors.

With the first meeting of Pisarro and Ataalpi, the Spaniards who organized an ambush killed thousands of the Indians and captured the emperor, who did not expect anything like that at all. After all, the Indians whom the Spaniards condemned for human sacrifices, believed that human life - The highest gift, and it is because the human victim of the gods was the highest form of worship. But so that this is so easy to destroy thousands of people who came at all on war?

The fact that the Incas could have serious resistance to the Spaniards, no doubt. After the murder of the captive ataalp, for which the Indians paid the monstrous ransom - almost 6 tons of gold, the conquistadors began to rob the country, mercilessly interpret on the ingots of the work of jewelry art of the Inca. But the brother Ataalp Manco, appointed by the new emperor, instead of collecting gold for the invaders, fled and headed the fight against the Spaniards. The last emperor, Tupaka Amaru, the vice-king of Peru Francisco de Toledo could execute only in 1572, and even after that, the leaders of new uprisings were called him name.

From the civilization of the Inca to this day, it came a little - after the death of hundreds of thousands of Indians, both from the hands of Spaniards and from work on mines, hunger, European epidemics, there was no one to maintain in the order of irrigation systems, alpine roads, beautiful buildings. Much Spaniard destroyed to get building material.

The country whose residents are accustomed to supplying from public warehouses, in which there were no beggars and vagrants, for many years after the arrival of the conquistadors became a zone of human disaster.

Different theories are determined by the age of the High System from 18 million years to several hundred million years. But, more importantly for people living in Andes, the process of forming these mountains is still continuing.

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, the gathering gatherings in Andes do not stop. In 1835, Charles Darwin watched the eruption of the Volcano Osorno from Chilo Island. The earthquake described by Darwin destroyed the city of Concepcion and Talcauano and took numerous sacrifices. Such events in the Andes are not uncommon.

So, in 1970, the glacier in Peru literally buried the city of Jung in almost all the inhabitants under him, about 20,000 people died. In 2010, the earthquake in Chile took several hundred lives, left no longer millions of people and caused tremendous material damage. In general, serious disasters occur in Andes with frightening cyclicity - once every 10-15 years.

Andes, Andean Cordillera (Span. Andes; Cordillera De Los Andes ) - one of the longest (9000 km) and one of the highest (Mount Akonkagua, 6961 m) of the Mountain Systems of the Earth, bordering from the north and west of all southern America; Southern Cordiller. Plots of Andes reach the width of over 500 km (the largest width is up to 750 km - in Central Andes, between 18 ° and 20 ° Yu.Sh.). The average height is about 4000 m.

Andes are a major interchangeable watershed; To the east of the Andes, the rivers of the Atlantic Ocean pool (the Amazon itself, and many of her major tributaries, as well as the tributaries of the Orinoco, Paraguay, Parana, Magdalena River and the Patagonia River), are taken to the Andakhs.

Andes serve most important in South America with a climate barrier, an insulating territory to the west of the main Cordillera from the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, east - from the influence of the Pacific Ocean. The mountains lie in 5 climatic belts (equatorial, subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and moderate) and differ (especially in the central part) with sharp contrasts in moisturizing the eastern (led) and Western (visits) slopes.

Due to the considerable length of the Andes, their individual landscape parts differ significantly from each other. According to the nature of the relief and other natural differences, there are usually three main regions - the Northern, Central and South Andes.

Andes stretched through the territories of seven states of South America - Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina

origin of name

According to the Italian historian Giovanni Anelle Oliva (G.), originally European conquerors " Andes or Cordillera"(" Andes, o Cordilleras ") was called East Range, while West was called" sierra"(" Sierra "). Currently, most scientists believe that the name comes from the Kechucian word anti (high comb, ridge), although there are other opinions [ what kind?] .

Video on the topic

Geological structure and relief

Andes - Regenerate Mountains, erected by the latest raising on the site of the so-called Andean (Cordillers) folded geosynclinal belt; Andes are one of the largest alpine folding systems on the planet (on Paleozoic and partly Baikal Folded Foundation). The beginning of the formation of the Andes belongs to the Jurassic time. For the Andean mining system, the triggers formed in TRIAS are characterized, subsequently filled with sedimentary and volcanogenic rocks of considerable power. Large arrays of the main Cordillera and the coast of Chile, the coastal cordillera Peru is granite-shaped end of challenge. Intergurny and boundary deflection (Altiplano, Maracaybo, etc.) were formed in Paleogenic and non -ogenic time. Tectonic movements, accompanied by seismic and volcanic activity, continue in our time. This is due to the fact that the subduction area is undergoing along the Pacific coast of South America: Nask and Antarctic plates go under South American, which contributes to the development of processing processes. The extreme southern part of South America, the fiery ground is separated by a transformer fault from a small plate of livestock. For the Strait of Drake Andes, the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula continue.

Andes are rich in ores mainly non-ferrous metals (vanadium, tungsten, bismuth, tin, lead, molybdenum, zinc, arsenic, antimony, etc.); The field is confined mainly to the Paleozoic structures of the eastern Andes and the Zherelov of the ancient volcanoes; On the territory of Chile - large copper deposits. In advanced and foothill, there are oil and gas (in the foothills of the Andes within Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina), in the edge of the weatherariness - bauxites. The Andes also have iron deposits (in Bolivia), sodium nitrate (in Chile), gold, platinum and emeralds (in Colombia).

Andes consist mainly of meridional parallel ridges: Eastern Cordillera Andes, Central Cordillera Andes, Western Cordillera Andes, Coastal Cordillera The Andes, between which there are internal plans and plateau (Pune, Altiplano in Bolivia and Peru) or depressions. The width of the mining system is mainly 200-300 km.

Orography

Northern Andes.

The main system of the Mountains of the Andes (Andiy Kordiller) consists of the parallel ridges extended in the meridional direction separated by internal plateales or depadies. Only the Caribbean Andes, located within Venezuela and belonging to the Northern Andam, stretched subshir along the coast of the Caribbean. Ecuadorian Andadores (in Ecuador) and North-Western Andes (in the west of Venezuela and Colombia) are also among the Northern Andama. The highest ridges of northern Andes have small modern glaciers, on volcanic cones - eternal snow. Aruba Islands, Bonaire, Curaçao in the Caribbean Sea are the tops of the northern Andes lowering in the sea.

In the North-Western Andes, the fan-forming diverging north of 12 ° C. Sh., Highlight three main cordillers - oriental, central and western. All of them are high, sharply and have a fold-bull-boring structure. They are characterized by faults, raising and lowering the latest time. The main cordillers are divided by large depressions - the valleys of Magdalena and Kauki rivers - the Pathi.

Eastern Cordillera has the highest height in its northeastern part (Ritakuva mountain, 5493 m); In the center of East Cordillera - ancient-armed plateau (prevailing heights - 2.5 - 2.7 thousand meters); For Eastern Cordillera, large surfaces of alignment are generally characteristic. In highlands - glaciers. In the north, the Eastern Cordiller continues the ridges of Cordillera de Merida (the highest point - Mount Bolivar, 5007 m) and Sierra de Periha (reaching a height of 3,540 m); Between these ridges in the extensive lowland depression lake Maracaibo. In the extreme north - a grievous array of Sierra Nevada de Santa-Martha with heights of up to 5800 m (Mount Cristobal-Colon)

The Valley of the Magdalena River separates the eastern Cordiller from the central, relatively narrow and high; In the Central Cordillera (especially in its southern part) - many volcanoes (Wila, 5750 m; Ruis, 5400 m; and others), some of them are valid (Cumble, 4890 m). To the north, the central Cordillera slightly decreases and forms anthokia array, strongly dissected by river valleys. Western Cordillera, separated from the Central Valley of the Kauca River, has smaller heights (up to 4,200 m); In the south of Western Cordillera - volcanism. Next to the West is a low (up to 1810 m), Serrania de Boudo ridge, turning in the north in the Panama Mountains. To the north and west of the North-Western Andes - the Retribic and Pacific Alluvial Lowlands.

As part of Equatorial (Ecuadorian) Andes, reaching up to 4 ° Yu.Sh., - two cordillers (Western and Eastern) separated by lowering height 2500-2700 m. Along the faults that limit these decrees (depressions) - one of the highest volcanic in the world chains (highest chimborace volcanoes, 6267 m, Kotopakh, 5897 m). These volcanoes, as well as the Volcanoes of Colombia, form the first volcanic area of \u200b\u200bthe Andes.

Central Andes.

In the central Andes (up to 28 ° Yu.Sh.), Peruvian Andes are distinguished (extending to the south to 14 ° 30 Yu.Sh.) and the actual Central Andes. In the Peruvian Andes, due to recent raises and intensive cutting into the rivers (the largest of which - Maranyon, Ukyali and Wellagi - belong to the Upper Amazon system) formed parallel ridges (Eastern, Central and Western Cordillers) and the system of deep longitudinal and transverse canyons, which dismembered the ancient alignment surface . The vertices of the Cordiller Peruvian Andes exceed 6000 m (the highest point - Mount Uscaran, 6768 m.); In Cordillera Blanca - modern glaciation. Alpine relief forms are also developed on Cordillera-Wilkanot's bilge ridges, Cordillera de Vilkabamba, Cordillera de Carrach.

South is the wider part of the Andes - Central Highlands (width to 750 km), where arid geomorphological processes prevail; A large part of the Highlands occupies a Puna plate with heights of 3.7 - 4.1 thousand meters. For Punes are characterized by Rabuleless Basins ("Brasses"), engaged in lakes (Titicaca, Popo, etc.) and Solonchaki (Atakama, Kupaas, Uyuni, and DR .). East of Pune - Cordillera Real (Anchoum Peak, 6550 m) with a powerful modern glaciation; Between the Altiplano plateau and Cordillera Real, at an altitude of 3700 m, is the city of La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, the most high-mountainous in the world. Eastern Cordillera Real - sub -andan folded ridges of East Cordillera, reaching up to 23 ° Yu.Sh. The southern continuation of Cordillera Real is the central Cordillera, as well as several block arrays (the highest point - Mount El Liebertor, 6720 m). From the west, Bunu framed Western Cordillera with intrusive peaks and numerous volcanic vertices (Sakham, 6780 m; Lulyalyalyako, 6,739 m; San Pedro, 6145 m; Misty, 5821 m; etc.), which are part of the second volcanic area of \u200b\u200bthe Andes. South 19 ° Yu.Sh. Western slopes of Western Cordillera go to the tectonic wpadine of the longitudinal valley occupied in the south of the Atakam desert. For the longitudinal valley - low (up to 1500 m) intrusive coastal cordillera, for which are characterized by arid sculptural form of relief.

In Pune and in the western part of the central Andes - a very high snow line (places above 6,500 m), so snow is marked only on the highest volcanic cones, and the glaciers are available only in the Hosie del Salado massif (up to 6 880 m height).

South Andes.

Andes near the border of Argentina and Chile

In the southern Andes extending to the south of 28 ° Yu.Sh., two parts are distinguished - Northern (Chilean-Argentinean, or subtropical Andes) and South (Patagonian Andes). In Chilean-Argentinean Andes, taped to the south and reaching up to 39 ° 41 Yu.Sh., a tripled structure is pronounced - Coast Cordillera, longitudinal valley and the main Cordillera; Within the last, in Cordillera Frontal, - the highest top of the Andes, Mount Akonkagua (6960 m), as well as large vertices of Tupungato (6800 m), Mercedario (6,770 m). The snow line is very high here (under 32 ° 40 Yu.Sh. - 6000 m). Eastern Cordillera-Frontal - ancient precorders.

South 33 ° Yu.Sh. (and up to 52 ° Yu.Sh.) there is a third volcanic area of \u200b\u200bthe Andes, where there are a lot of acting (mainly in the main Cordillera and west of it) and extinct volcanoes (Tupungato, Maypa, Legima, etc.)

When moving to the south, the snow line gradually decreases and under 51 ° Yu.Sh. It reaches the mark of 1460 m. High ridges acquire the features of an alpine type, the area of \u200b\u200bmodern glaciation increases, numerous glacial lakes increase. South of 40 ° Yu.Sh. Patagonian Andes begin with lower than in Chilean-Argentinean Andes, ridges (the highest point - San Valentine mountain - 4058 m) and active volcanism in the north. About 52 ° Yu.Sh. The strongly dissected coast Cordillera is immersed in the ocean, and its vertices form a chain of the rocky islands and archipelagoes; The longitudinal valley turns into a system of straits reaching the western part of Magellanov Strait. In the area of \u200b\u200bMagellanov, the Andes Strait (the name of the fire of the fire land) are abruptly deviated to the east. In the Patagonian Andes, the height of the snow line barely exceeds 1500 m (in the extreme south it is 300-700 m, and from 46 ° 30 Yu.Sh. Glaciers are lowered to the ocean level), the ice mills of the relief prevail (under 48 ° Yu.Sh. - Powerful patagonian glacier shield) with an area of \u200b\u200bover 20 thousand km², from where multi-kilometer glacial languages \u200b\u200bare lowered to the West); Some of the valley glaciers of the Eastern slopes end in large lakes. Young volcanic cones (Corcovado, etc.) are raised along the shores that are strongly cut by fjords. Andes of the fiery ground are relatively low (up to 2469 m).

Climate

Northern Andes.

The northern tube belongs to the northern hemispheresive belt; Here, as in the subequatorial belt of the southern hemisphere, there is an alternation of wet and dry seasons; The sediments fall from May to November, but in the northernmost areas the wet season is less than lasting. Eastern slopes are moistened much more western; The precipitation (up to 1000 mm per year) falls predominantly in the summer. In the Caribbean Andes, which are on the border of the tropical and subequatorial belts, the tropical air dominates all year; There are few precipitation (often less than 500 mm per year); Rivers short with characteristic summer floods.

In the equatorial belt, seasonal oscillations are practically absent; Thus, in the capital of Ecuador, Quito change the average monthly temperatures for the year is only 0.4 ° C. The precipitate is abundant (up to 10,000 mm per year, although usually 2500-7000 mm per year) and are distributed over the slopes evenly than in the subequatorial belt. Clearly expressed high-rise lower. At the bottom of the mountains - hot and humid climate, precipitation falls almost daily; In decreases - numerous swamps. With a height, the amount of precipitation decreases, but the power of the snow cover increases. The heights of 2500-3000 p temperatures are rarely lowered below 15 ° C, seasonal temperature fluctuations are insignificant. Here are already great daily fluctuations (up to 20 ° C), the weather can change dramatically during the day. At the heights of 3500-3800 m, daily temperatures ranges 10 ° C. Above - harsh climate with frequent snowstorm and snowfall; Day temperatures are positive, but there are strong frosts at night. The climate is dry, since with a large evaporation there is little precipitation. Above 4500 m - Eternal snow.

Central Andes.

Between 5 ° and 28 ° Yu.Sh. A pronounced asymmetry in the distribution of precipitation on the slopes is observed: Western slopes are moistened significantly weaker than the eastern. To the west of the main Cordillera - a desert tropical climate (the formation of which a lot contributes to the Cold Peruvian current), the rivers are very small. If 200-250 mm of precipitation falls in the northern part of the central Andes, then their number is reduced and the places do not exceed 50 mm per year. In this part of the Andes there is an attack - the most dry desert globe. The deserts rise to 3000 m over the sea level. Little oasis are located mainly in the valleys of small rivers feeding on the waters of mountain glaciers. The mediumbar temperature in coastal areas ranges from 24 ° C in the north to 19 ° C in the south, Medium-deed - from 19 ° C in the north to 13 ° C in the south. Above 3000 m, in dry Pune, is also a little precipitation (rarely more than 250 mm per year); Cold wind arrings are noted when the temperature may drop to -20 ° C. The medium temperature does not exceed 15 ° C.

At small heights, with an extremely small amount of rain, significant (up to 80%) humidity, therefore, fog and dew. Altiplano and Puna is a very stern climate, annual average temperatures are not exceeded by 10 ° C. A large lake Titicaca has a mitigating effect on the climate of the adjacent territories - in the brief areas of temperature fluctuations are not so significant as in other parts of the plateau. East of the main Cordillera is a large (3000 - 6000 mm per year) the amount of precipitation (mostly brought to the eastern winds in the summer), a thick river network. According to the valleys, air masses from the Atlantic Ocean crosses the eastern Cordille, moisturizing and its western slope. Above 6000 m in the north and 5000 m in the south - negative average annual temperatures; Due to dry climate of glaciers.

South Andes.

In the Chilean-Argentine Andes, the climate subtropical, and moisturizing the Western slopes - at the expense of winter cyclones - more than in the subequatorial belt; When driving on the south, the annual amounts of precipitation in the Western slopes are rapidly increasing. Summer dry, winter wet. As the ocean removes the continentality of the climate increases, seasonal temperature fluctuations increase. In the city of Santiago, located in the longitudinal valley, the average temperature of the warmer month is 20 ° C, the coldest - 7-8 ° C; The precipitation in Santiago falls a bit, 350 mm per year (south, in Valdivia, precipitation is more than 750 mm per year). In the Western slopes, the main cordillera of precipitation is greater than in the longitudinal valley (but less than on the Pacific coast).

When driving to the south, the subtropical climate of the Western slopes is smoothly moving into the oceanic climate of moderate latitudes: the annual amounts of precipitation increase, the differences in moisturizing on the seasons decrease. Strong Western winds bring a large amount of precipitation on the coast (up to 6000 mm per year, although usually 2000-3000 mm). More than 200 days a year are strong rain, dense fogs are often lowered on the coast, the sea is constantly a storm; The climate is unfavorable for living. Eastern slopes (between 28 ° and 38 ° Yu.Sh.) are more arid than Western (and only in moderate belt, south of 37 ° Yu.Sh., thanks to the influence of Western winds, their moisturizing increases, although they remain less moistened Comparatives with Western). average temperature The warm month itself on the Western slopes is only 10-15 ° C (cold - 3-7 ° C)

In the extreme southern part of the Andes, on the fiery ground, is a very wet climate, which forms strong wet Western and south-west winds; The precipitation (up to 3000 mm) falls out mainly in the form of drizzling rains (which go most of the days per year). Only in the easternmost part of the sediment archipelago is significantly less. Throughout the year stand low temperatures (At the same time, temperature fluctuations for seasons are extremely insignificant).

Soil and vegetation

The soil and vegetable cover of the Andes is very diverse. This is due to the large altitudes of mountains, a significant difference in moisture in the western and eastern slopes. High-rise explanation in Andes is pronounced clearly. Three high-rise belts are isolated - Tierra Caliente, Tierra Fria and Tierra Elay.

On the slopes of the Patagonian Andes South 38 ° Yu.Sh. - subarctic multi-tiered forests from high-ranking trees and shrubs, mostly evergreen, on

Copper Mountains - this is exactly the Incas called these the longest mountains in the world. We are talking About Andiy Cordillera, known to us as Andes. This mining chain is not comparable to any of the existing on our planet. The length of the Andes is about 9 thousand km. They originate from the Caribbean and reach the fiery land.

Width and Height of Andes

AKONKAGUA (in the photo below) is the highest peak of Andiy Kordiller. The height of the Andes at this point is 6962 meters. Akonkagua is in Argentina. What are the prevailing whole line major vertices. Among them, Mount Ritakawa (5493 meters), El Liebertador (6720 meters), Wascaran (6768 meters), Mernedario (6770 m), etc. There are such sections on which the mountains in the width reach 500 km. As for the maximum width, it is about 750 km. The main part of them occupies a Pune plate, having a very high snow line, which reaches 6500 m. The average altitude of the Andes is approximately 4000 m.

And their education

According to experts, these mountains are quite young. Several million years ago, the process of the property was completed here. In the Precambrian period began the birth of fossils. Sushi plots then began to occur at the site of the bustling ocean. The locality where modern Andiy Cordillera is located, for a long time, then the sea, then land, and the height of the Andes changed significantly. The mining chain completed its formation after raising rocks. Huge folds consisting of stone, as a result of this process, advanced to an impressive height. By the way, this process is not over. It continues in our time. In Andes, there are sometimes eruptions of volcanoes and earthquakes.

Rivers originate in Andes

The longest mountains on our planet at the same time are considered the largest interconnection watershed. The famous Amazon takes its beginning in Andy Cordillera, as well as her tributaries. It should also be noted that both Paraguay states, Orinoco and Paranians begin in the Andes. For the mainland, the mountains are a climatic barrier, that is, they protect the land from the west of the impact of the Atlantic Ocean, and from the east - from the influence of the Pacific Ocean.

Relief

Andes have a greater length, so it is not surprising that they are in six climatic belts. Unlike southern, in the Western slopes, the amount of precipitation is great. It reaches 10 thousand mm per year. Therefore, not only the height of the Andes varies significantly, but also their landscape.

Andiy Cordillera on the relief is divided into 3 regions: Central, Northern and South Andes. The main cordillers are separated by the depressions of rivers such as Magdalena and Kauca. There are many volcanoes. One of them, Wylas, reaches 5750 m. Other, Ruis, rises at 5400 m. The Cumbal, which is currently active, reaches a height of 4890 m. Ecuadorian Andes related to the Northern include a volcanic chain marked by the highest volcanoes. ONLY CHIMBACIA ONLY WORDS - It is towering at 6267 m. The height of the Kotopakh is not much less - 5896 m. The highest point of Ecuadorian Andaran is Uasharan - 6769 m is the absolute height of the mountain. Andes South are divided into Chilean-Argentinean and Patagonian. The highest points in this part is Tupungato (about 6800 m) and medical satellite (6770 m). Six thousand meters reaches the snow line here.

Volcano Lulylyalyako

This is a very interesting acting volcano located on the border of Argentina and Chile. He belongs to the Peruvian Andam (Ridge Western Cordillera). This volcano is located in the Atakama desert, which is one of the most dry places on our planet. The absolute height of the Andes at the point is 6739 m. It is the highest of all valid. In the area of \u200b\u200bthis volcano, Mount Andes are very peculiar. The relative height of it reaches 2.5 km. On the western slope of the volcano, the snow line exceeds 6.5 thousand meters, which is the highest position on the planet.

Desert Atakama

This unusual place has sections in which there has never been rain. Atakam desert - the most arid place on Earth. The fact is that the rains cannot overcome therefore falling on the other side of the mountains. Sands in this desert stretch to the most trains thousands of kilometers. Cold fog rising by the sea is the only source of moisture for local plants.

Glacier San Rafael.

Another interesting place that I would like to tell, is the Glacier of San Rafael. It should be noted that in the south of Alpine Cordiller, where it is located, very cold. At one time, it was very surprised by the pioneers, since the South of France and Venice lie on the same latitude in the northern hemisphere, and here they discovered the Glacier of San Rafael. He moves, shining the slopes of the mountains whose peaks are becoming increasingly sharper and cooler over time. Only in 1962 his source was found. The ice shield of giant size cools the whole region.

Vegetation

Andes are a unique place on our planet, and not only with impressive values \u200b\u200bthat have the width and height of the mountains. Andes are extremely picturesque. IN different places They have their own highlight. In the Andes of Venezuela, for example, shrubs and deciduous forests grow on red soils. Equatorial and wet tropical forests cover the lower parts of the slopes from the North-Western Andes to the central. There are bananas, ficuses, cocoa woods, palm trees, lianas and bamboo. However, there are also stony lifeless spaces, and many moss marshes. In places where the average altitude of the Andes exceeds 4500 m, there is a region of eternal ice and snow. Andiy Cordillera is known as Koki, tomatoes, tobacco and potatoes.

Animal world

The animal world of these mountains is no less interesting. Lama, alpacas, deer put, vicuni, glasses, blue foxes, sloths, hummingbirds, chinchillas are inhabited. All these animals inhabitants of our country can only find in zoos.

One of the features of the Andes is a wide variety of amphibious species (about 900). About 600 species of mammals live in the mountains, as well as about two thousand species of birds. A variety of freshwater fish is also great. In local rivers there are about 400 species.

Tourism and locals

Andiy Cordillera, except for remote and difficult areas, are not an untouched corner of nature. Local residents handle almost every piece of land here. However, the road to Andes for most tourists means "care" from our time. For centuries, in these places, a constant lifestyle remains, which allows tourists to feel themselves in the past.

Travelers can go through the ancient Indian trails, where, however, sometimes you need to stop to skip the flock of Guanaco, sheep or goats. No matter how many times you have already visited these local places always fascinates. Meetings with locals also turn out to be unforgettable. Their lifestyle is far from usual to us. The huts in these places are built of untreated bricks. Locals are often unreliable without electricity. In order to get water, they go to the nearest stream.

Hiking in the mountains is not mountaineering in the familiar sense of the word. Rather, these are walking along the steep paths. However, they need to be performed only absolutely healthy and well-trained people with special equipment.

Andes (Andes, from Ant, in the language of Inca copper, copper Mountains), Andiy Cordillera (Cordillera de Los Andes), the longest (estimated, from 8 to 12 thousand km) and one of the highest (6959 m, Mount Akonkagua) of the Mountain Systems of the Globe; Frames from the north and west South America. In the north, the Bore of the Caribbean Sea is limited, in the West addressed to the Pacific Ocean, in the south is washed by the Strait of Drake. Andes are the main climatic barrier of the mainland, isolating the eastern part of the influence of the Pacific Ocean, Western from the influence of the Atlantic Ocean.

Relief. Andes consist mainly of submeridional ridges Western Cordillera Andes, Central Cordillera Andes, Eastern Cordillera Anda, Coast Cordillera Andes separated by inner plateales and depressions (see the map).

The aggregate of natural features and the orography allocate the Northern, Peruvian, Central and South Andes. Northern Andes include Caribbean and Colombian-Venezuelan and Ecuadorian Andadores. Caribbean Andes are stretched laitting and reach a height of 2765 m (Mount of Nigath). Colombian-Venezuelan Andes have northeastern stretch and are formed by Western, Central and Eastern (height up to 5493 m) Cordillera. The ridges are fanlikely diverge to the north of 1 ° north latitude and divided by the valleys of the Kauca and Magdalena rivers. The northern branches of Eastern Cordillera cover the Maracaibo interhongistan. A separate array of Sierra Nevada de Santa-Martha (height of 5775 m, the Mountain of Cristobal-Color) is cool climbing the coast of the Caribbean. Along the coast of the Pacific Ocean is located lowland up to 150 km wide, with low (up to 1810 m) ridges separated from the Western Cordillera Valley of the Atrato River. Ecuadorian Andado (1 ° Northern Latitude - 5 ° South latitude), a width of less than 200 km (the minimum width of the Andes), stretched submeridionally and are formed by Western (height up to 6310 m, the Mountain Chimborace) and Eastern Cordillera, separated by depression - Kitto Raben. Along the coast - lowland and low mountains. Peruvian Andes (5 ° -14 ° of southern latitude), up to 400 km width, have the northwestern stretch. The coastal plain is almost absent. Western (height up to 6768 m, Mount Wascaran), Central and Eastern Cordillera are separated by the valleys of Maranton and Ualaga Rivers. In Central Andes (Central Highlands, 14 ° 28 ° Southern Little), the stretch varies from the north-west to submeridional. Western Cordillera (height up to 6900 m, Hosh-del Salado Mountain) is separated from the central and cordillera-real extensive brand altiplano. Eastern and Central Cordillera shares narrow depression with the upper reaches of the Beni River. Along the coast, coast Cordillera stretches, from the east, framed by the longitudinal valley. South Andes (Chilean-Argentinean and Patagonian Andes), 350-450 km wide, are located south of 28 ° southern latitude and have mainly submeridional strike. They are formed by the coastal Cordillera, the longitudinal valley, the main Cordiller (height to 6959 m, the Akonkagua Mountain) and the precorder. To the south of height decrease to 1000 m (on the fiery ground). Patagonian Andes are strongly dissected by modern and ancient (quaternary) glaciers on numerous arrays and ridges. Coast Cordillera goes into a chain of the islands of the Chilean Archipelago with deep valleys and fjords, and the longitudinal valley is in the system of straits. Andes are included in the Pacific Volcanic Ring, and the appearance of the relief is largely determined by volcanic forms - plateau, lava flows, volcanic cones. There are up to 50 major active, 30 extinct volcanoes and hundreds of small volcanic buildings. In the northern Andes - Kotopakh volcanoes (5897 m), Wyla (5750 m), Ruiz (5400 m), Sangai (5230 m), etc.; in Central Andes - Lulylyalya (6723 m), Misty (5822 m) and others; In the southern Andes - Tupungato (6800 m), Llaima (3060 m), Osorno (2660 m), Corcovado (2300 m), Bernie (1750 m), etc.

Geological structure and minerals. Andes as the newest mountain structure was formed at the Alpine stage (in Cenozoa) in connection with the evolution of the active outskirts of South America. In its position, Andes inherit the Andean folded system of the largest system of the eastern part of the Pacific moving belt. Modern Andes are a typical outbreak-continental volcano-plutonic belt. At earliest stages of development (the end of the Triassa - Mel) there were insiano systems of the Western Pacific Type. According to the geological structure of the Andes have transverse and longitudinal zonality. From the north to south, three segments are distinguished: Northern (Colombian-Ecuadorian), central (with Peruvian-Bolivian and Northern Chilean-Argentine subsegments) and South (South Chilean-Argentinean). The most eastern element of the Andes is the band of subband advanced defunitions, gradually narrowing to the south and consisting of individual units separated by transverse lifters. The deflection was made by weak-formed Eocene-Quaternary Moless. The Orogens of the Andes, taking to the east, consists of several large raised lifts with a folded structure (expressed in the relief by mountain ridges in cordillers) and separating their narrower intertemers or a plateau (altiplano), made by powerful non-co-quaternary moles. Eastern (external), partly the central orogen zones are composed of fragments of the Rannedokembry Metamorphic Foundation of the Platform, its Paleozoic Cover, lateokbreak (Brazilides) and Hercinsky metamorphic folded complexes. In the structure of Western (internal) zones, Mesozoic (partly - Paleozoic) sedimentary, volcanogenic and sedimentary, volcanogenic complexes, which have formed in volcanic island arcs, stagnaya basins on the ancient active outskirts of South America, as well as ophiolitis of various origin. These formations were attached (accreted) to the outskirts of South America in Late Chalk. At the same time, there was an introduction of giant multiphase granite baatoliths (Bath Cordillera Peru, the main Cordillera Chile, Patagonsky). The chains of large terrestrial stratovulkanes were formed along the active continental outskirts along the active continental outskirts. These three volcanic groups are active: North (South Columbia and Ecuador), Central (South Peru - North Chile) and South (South Chile). Andes retain high tectonic mobility, are characterized by intense seismicity associated with making (subduction) Nasca plates under the South American Plate.

Andes are extremely rich in minerals. South America's copper belt deposits are connected with granite batroliths. The Cenozoic volcanic and submulcanic formations are confined to the fields of silver, copper, lead, zinc, tungsten, gold, platinum and other rare and non-ferrous metals (deposits in Peru and Bolivia). With a strip of advanced deflection, made by Cenozoic Molesami, especially in the north (Venezuela, Ecuador, Northern Peru) and the extreme south of the Andes (South Chile, Argentina), are connected by the deposits of oil and natural fuel. Large deposits Selitra, iron ores in Chile, Emeralds in Colombia.

Climate. Andes crossed 6 climatic belts (equatorial, northern and southern subequatorial, southern tropical and subtropical, moderate), distinguished by sharp contrasts in moistening of Western (viscous) and oriental (led) slopes. In the Caribbean Andes there are 500-1000 mm of precipitation per year (mainly in summer), in Equatorial Andes (Ecuador and Colombia) on Western slopes - up to 10,000 mm, to the eastern - up to 5000 mm. Western slopes of the Peruvian and Central Andes and the internal areas of central Andes are characterized by a tropical desert climate, the eastern slopes receive up to 3000 mm precipitation per year. To the south of 20 ° south latitude in Western slopes, the amount of precipitation increases, on the eastern - decreases. The Western slopes to the south of 35 ° south latitude are obtained in a year 5000-10,000 mm of precipitation, and the eastern is 100-200 mm. Only in the south, with a decrease in heights, there is some leveling in the moisturization of the slopes. The snow line is located in Colombia at an altitude of 4700-4900 m, in Ecuador - 4250 m, in the central Andes 5600-6100 (in Pune 6500 m - the highest on Earth). It decreases to 3100 m to 35 ° south latitude, 1000-1200 m - in Patagonian Andes, 500-600 m - on the fiery ground. South of 46 ° 30 'South latitude of glaciers go down to the ocean level. Large centers of glaciation are located in Cordillera de Santa-Martha and Cordillere de Merida (total ice volume about 0.5 km 3), in Ecuadorian Andes (1.1 km 3), Peruvian Andes (24.7 km 3 ), in Western Cordillera Central Andes (12.1 km 3), in the Central Cordillera (62.7 km 3), in Chilean-Argentinean Andes (38.9 km 3), Patagonian Andes (12.6 thousand km 3, in including the Ussala glacier). The Patagonian glacial shield form two extensive fields with a total length of 700 km, width of 30-70 km, with a total area of \u200b\u200b13 thousand km 2.

Rivers and lakes. The Andama passes the inter-worn watershed, they take the beginning of the components and influx of Amazon, as well as the tributaries of the Orinoco, Paraguay, Parana and the Patagonia River. In the Northern and Peruvian Andes in narrow depressions located between the ridges, large rivers flow: Kauca, Magdalena, Maranyon (Iston Amazon), Ualaga, Mantaro, etc. Most of their tributaries and the rivers of central and southern Andes are relatively short. The Western and Coast Cordiller rivers between 20 ° and 28 ° of southern latitude almost do not have permanent watercourses, the river network is cleaned. In the central Andes there are extensive fields of internal flow. Rivers flow into lakes Titicaca, Popo and Solonchaki (Kupaas, Uyuni, etc.). In the southern, especially Patagonian, Andes, many large lakes of Ice Origin (Buenos Aires, San Martin, Viedma, Lago-Archntino, etc.) and hundreds of small (finitely frosic and carriages).

Soil, vegetable and animal world. The situation in several climatic belts, contrasts in moisturizing the western and eastern slopes, the significant heights of the Andes cause a large variety of soil and vegetation cover and a pronounced high-rise explanancy. In the Caribbean Andes - Falls (for the Winter Drought) Forests and Shrubs on Mountain Red Soils. On the eastern slopes of Colombian-Venezuelan, Ecuadorian, Peruvian and central Andan and Central Anda - Mountain Wet Tropical Forests (Mountain Guyae) in the latic soils, including the Natural Area of \u200b\u200bJungas. On the Western slopes of the Peruvian and Central Andes - the deserts of Tamarugal and Atakam, in the internal highlands - Pune. In the subtropical Andes of Chile - evergreen dry forests and shrubs on brown soils, south of 38 ° southern latitude - wet evergreen and mixed forests on brown forests, in the south - apodoline soils. For high plane, special high-alpine vegetation types are characteristic: in the north - equatorial meadows (paramos), in Peruvian Andes and in the northeast of Puna - Dry cereal steppes (Hulk). Andes are home to potatoes, frying wood, coca and other valuable plants.

Animal world of Andes are similar to the fauna of the adjacent plains; Among endemic species is a relic of spectacular bear, Lama (Vicuna and Guanaco), Magellanova Dog (Culpio), Azarov Fox, Deer Pudi and Wemul, Chinchilla, Chilean Oposatum. Numerous birds (especially in the coastline Cordillera): Condor, mountain partridge, geese, ducks, parrots, flamingos, hummingbirds, etc. It is possible that the horse's horse, sheep and goat delivered to South America contributed to the desertification of the landscapes of Andes.

In Andes, 88 national parks with a total area of \u200b\u200b19.2 million hectares, including: Sierra Nevada (Venezuela), Paramilo, Cordillera de Los Picacham, Sierra de la Macaren (Colombia), Sangai (Ecuador), Wascharan, Manu (Peru), Isborney Secrere (Bolivia), Alberto-Agostini, Bernardo O'Higshns, Laguna - San Rafael (Chile), Naplel-UAP (Argentina), as well as numerous reserves and other protected areas.

Lit.: Lukashova E. N. South America. physical geography. M., 1958; Cordillera America. M., 1967.

M. P. Lodine; A. A. Zaroshnikov (geological structure and minerals).