Andes: the absolute height and the coordinates of the highest point. Details of the mountains.

The Andes, whose height is 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 continent 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 as 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 Cordilleras. The thing is that this mountain chain is clearly of a common origin. It is believed that it arose when both parts of America began to move to the east.

Other scientists Cordilleras call only the mountains in the Northern Hemisphere. Andes are distinguished as an independent system. Their arguments are based on the fact that the Cordilleras differ both in relief and position above sea level. Therefore, the highest point of the Andes is Mount Aconcagua (6962 meters). Cordilleras can not 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 performance. The peak of Aconcagua rises over the entire western hemisphere. It is also striking that the average height of the mountains (Andes) is 4000 m, while they extend in length by 9000 km (!), And in width - up to 750 km. Even from space, you can see such a huge stone massif with snow-capped peaks. Among other things, the Andes are also the highest mountain system in the world.

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 the land 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. For tens of thousands of years they have hardened, turning into deposits of stone. Further, under pressure, they were pushed outward in the form of huge folds. All this was accompanied by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The entire process of shaping the relief was completed with a general uplift of the entire system.

Young mountains

Andes are considered to be Alpine folding (the era of tectogenesis in the Cenozoic). Therefore, despite the 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 because the mountains have not yet completed their education 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, in the Andes often earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and the convergence of glaciers occur. Unfortunately, serious disasters occur in the Andes with an alarming cyclicality - once every 10-15 years. Not so long ago (in 2010), the world was shaken by the earthquake in Chile, which affected millions of people.

Height is relative and absolute: what is the difference

Speaking about the height of the Andes, it is necessary to clarify, than the absolute height differs from the relative one. 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 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. 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 health, which depends on the atmospheric pressure and the temperature minimum, already determines the absolute altitude. Experienced climbers never ignore these figures.

The height of the Andes with respect to the Amazonian lowland

If in a section to look at South America, then the relief of its surface is very peculiar. A fairly large amplitude is observed between the minimum and maximum indices.

The Amazonian lowland is the largest on the planet, its area occupies 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, which 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 indicators are 150-250 meters.

So what is the height of the Andes with respect to the Amazonian lowland? If you take into account only the difference in average heights, it is already impressive: a difference from 200 to 4000 meters - and it's all about 5,000 kilometers wide.

Taking into account the maximum scatter of absolute heights, it turns out, the rise of the surface is from 10 meters to almost 7 kilometers. This could not but affect the climate and the atmospheric pressure zone, but more on this later.

Andes: absolute altitude and the coordinates of the highest point

Aconcagua is located on the territory of Argentina. The etymology of this name is not known exactly, perhaps it comes from the words "Akon kaguak", which in the Quechua language means "stone guard".

The navigator will help to reach the foot of Aconcagua, and then conquer the peak of the mountain system of the Andes. The absolute height and coordinates of the highest point are indicated to within meters and minutes: the top lies at 6962 meters above sea level and is at 32 ° 39 'S. W. 70 ° 00 'W E.

Major peaks

Andes can boast of 13 th six-thousandths. Here is their list:

1. Aconcagua (6962 m).
2. Ojos del Salado (6893 m). This is the highest volcano in the world. It was located on the border between Argentina and Chile.
3. Pisis (6795 m). It is located in the most picturesque part of the Andes. Next to it lie the most beautiful lakes and glaciers.
4. Bonnet (6759 m). It is located near the national park Laguna Brava.
5. Tres Cruzes (6749 m). This is also a volcano, which has three peaks. Nearby is the national park of the same name.
6. Huaskaran (6746 m). The highest mountain in Peru.
7. Lulaylaco (6739 m). This is the highest place in the world, where the remains of an ancient civilization are found. Archaeologists found here three Inca mummies.
8. Mercedario (6700 m). It is a glacier of enormous sizes, from which many sources of mountain rivers are taken.
9. Walter Penck (6658 m). This volcano is named after its researcher from Germany, who worked here in the late 19th century.
10. Inkauasi (6638 m). This mountain was a place of worship in the Incas.
11. Jerupaya (6617 m). In translation, the name sounds like a "white dawn", perhaps because of the eternal snows covering the summit.
12. Tupungato (6570 m). Located on the border of Chile and Argentina, 80 kilometers from Aconcagua.
13. Sayyama (6542 m). This is the highest point of Bolivia.

Regions

Since the described mountain system is too long in length, three main landscape zones are distinguished in it: the Northern, Southern and Central Andes.

The first of them consists of three arrays: the Caribbean (located on the territory of Venezuela), the Northwest (Colombia - Venezuela) and the Ecuadorian (also called Equatorial) Andes. Interestingly, these mountains go to sea - such islands as Bonairo, Aruba and Curacao are actually the peaks that have not yet risen from the depths. This part of the Andes is distinguished by the highest in the world chain of volcanoes, some of which are still active.

If we talk about the central landscape area, then, in addition to the main part, we 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 a maximum of 750 km. A large area is occupied by the Pune plateau, the average height of which ranges from 3.7 to 4 kilometers. Also in the Central Andes there is the second peak after Aconcagua - Ojos del Salado. Quite a few here and six thousand. All of them have one interesting feature - a very high snow line (starting at 6500 m). This part is characterized by high-mountainous lakes, the most famous of them is Titicaca, which rests at an altitude of 3821 m.

Despite the fact that here is the famous peak, 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 going to decline. Accordingly, the snow line also falls (under the white cover lie the peaks starting from 1500 m). When immersed in the ocean, they acquire a different appearance: they are transformed into archipelagos and islands. The prevailing heights of the Andes Mountains on Tierra del Fuego, which is also covered by ridges, are substantially 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 alternation of 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 small. And now the Ecuadorian Andes are more stable relative to the temperature: there the arrow of the thermometer basically stands in place all year round. This is enjoyed by the people of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. This area is very well hydrated.

In the Central Andes, the climate is very harsh because of the large drop in moisture indicators on the western and eastern slopes of the mountains. Here is Atacama - the most dry desert in the world, where a year falls not more than 50 mm of precipitation.

The southern Andes lie in the zone of subtropics, which smoothly passes into a temperate climatic belt. Due to strong winds, the amount of precipitation here reaches 6000 mm. This is not surprising, because on the southern coast of the rains are almost 200 days a year.

Climbing Aconcagua

Aconcagua is the second in the list of Seven Peaks. She is second only to Everest. The first conqueror of the summit of the Andes is Matthias Zhurbiggen, who made the ascent in 1897.

Compared to other peaks, the ascent to Aconcagua is considered technically easy, especially on the north side. Unlike the conquest of Everest, oxygen cylinders are not necessary to conquer the Andes - the height above sea level here is less by 2000 m.

Highscores

Despite the possibility of sudden storms, every year about 5000 daredevils are trying to get to the top and find themselves at the highest point of the entire western hemisphere. Records are already set.

For example, the fastest rise (5 hours 45 minutes) was carried out in 1991. Apparently, recently interest in the Andes has increased again, since several records have been established, and almost one after another. So, in 2013, 9-year-old American schoolboy Tyler Armstrong became the youngest representative of the stronger sex, who mastered the top of Aconcagua. And the 12-year-old Romanian Jeta Popescu gave a decent response in February 2016.

At the same time Spaniard Fernanda Maciel took the first place in the list of the fastest complete (top - descent - top) of the ascent, making it in 14 hours and 20 minutes. A similar record for the male rise was recorded a year earlier. The greatest height of the mountains (Andes) succumbed to the climber Karl Egloff, who coped for 11 hours and 52 minutes.

Also surprising is one more fact: at a distance of 4400 meters from the sea level is the highest art gallery in the world. It is located in the base camp of the Plaza de Moulas. There are works by modern Argentine artist Miguel Daura. Apparently, leisure is provided to climbers.

Ancient civilization in the Andes

It is believed that people have mastered a high-mountainous area 4000 years ago, at least, so it is dated by the first archaeological excavations. Yes, many mysteries are hidden in the Andes! Their height, apparently, did not frighten the Incas, who built a whole civilization here.

Particularly puzzling among the researchers is the archaeological complex Saksayuaman (3,700 m), whose fortress consists of huge processed stones weighing up to 200 tons. A little lower (3,500 m) is the ancient agricultural laboratory of Moray, where the Incas, most likely, conducted experiments with plants.

The Andes can truly be called the property of the world, because they store both the richness of landscapes from which the spirit captures, and the mysteries of the ancient history of mankind.