The Andes are undoubtedly one of the greatest mountain systems in the world. The Andes contain some of the world's highest peaks and more than 50 of them rise 6 000m above sea level. One of them being the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, Aconcagua which rises approximately 6 960m above sea level. The Andes are located on the western edge of the South American continent and extend in a narrow belt for more than 8 000km. They are situated at the longitude of 70° W-80° E and the latitude of 10° N and 57° S. The Andes run from the Caribbean Sea to the southern island, Tierra del Fuego. The mountains intersect into seven countries, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.
             Processes Forming the Mountain Environment
             The earth's interior is composed of several layers, the outer layer being the crust. The crust is divided into eight vast plates as well as smaller ones. Each year theses vast plates slowly travel across the earth. The movement is caused by currents deep within the mantle, known as convection currents. This process is know as Plate Tectonics and lead to the formation of the Andes.
             As a result of the convection current, the plates move in several directions. All of the world's greatest landforms were formed as a result of the collision of plates. For example, mountains are formed as two continental plates press against each other and thicken the crust. This results in layers of rock compressing upwards. There are three main types of mountains. Fault mountains, Fold Mountains and dome mountains. The Andes were formed by the process of Fold Mountains. Fold mountains are formed at plate boundaries where one plate is subducted. As a result, one plate buckles, where another plate is forced down into the magma. The Andes were formed during the Cenozoic Era about 138-65 million years ago. The Nazca Plate collided with the South American Plate and was subducted under the wes...