Andes

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Note that the geology in this article currently reflects views from the first decade of the 20th century. It is a good example of the descriptive geology of that time, but because it is pre-plate tectonics, it cannot be relied on when explaining the existence of these ranges and some of the structural commentary. If you update this article with more current information, please remove this disclaimer.

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The Andes is a vast mountain system forming a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. It is roughly 7000 km (4400 mi) long, 500 km (300 mi) wide in some parts (widest between 18? to 20? S latitude), and of an average height of about 4000 m (13,000 ft).

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The connection of this system with that of the Rocky Mountains, which has been pointed out by many writers, has received much support from the discovery of the extensive eruptions of granite during Tertiary times, extending from the southern extremity of South America to Alaska.

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The Andean range is composed of two great principal chains with a deep intermediate depression, in which, and at the sides of the great chains, arise other chains of minor importance, the chief of which is that called the Cordillera de la Costa of Chile. This starts from the southern extremity of the continent and runs in a northerly direction, parallel with the coast, being broken up at its beginning into a number of islands and afterwards forming the western boundary of the great central valley of Chile. To the north this coastal chain continues in small ridges or isolated hills along the Pacific Ocean as far as Venezuela, always leaving the same valley more or less visible to the west of the western great chain.

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Mountain: A mountain is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain in a limited area. A mountain is generally much higher and steeper than a hill, but there is considerable overlap, and usage often depends on local custom. Some authorities define a mountain as a peak with a topographic prominence ...

Chain: A chain can be any of the following:...

South America: South America is a part of the American continent traversed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. South America is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean....

Andes related Images and Photos (experimental)

Andes	Criollo de Los Andes	The Passage of the Andes in 1817	Storm Over the Andes 1935
Blackbeard the Pirate Keith Andes Robert Newton Linda Darnell William Bendix 1952	Francisco Pizarro Expedition Ascending the Andes to Conquer the Inca Empire in Peru	Funnel Cloud of a Tornado High in the Andes Mountains	Clash by Night Paul Douglas Barbara Stanwyck Marilyn Monroe Keith Andes Robert Ryan 1952
Llama Rests Overlooking Ruins of Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains Peru	The Inca Ruins of Machu Picchu High in the Andes Mountains	The Mint of Santiago from Travels Into Chile over the Andes in the Years 1820 and 1821	Scenes of the "Beagle" Being Repaired on the Distant Cordillera of the Andes