Andes Mountains

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References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

Southern and Central Andes and Patagonia

Central and Northern Andes and the Amazon River basin and drainage network

Northern Andes and the Orinoco River basin

Behold Andean condors soaring among mountaintops of the Andes, a chain that stretches the entire length of South America

Visit Aymara and Quechua people on the Altiplano of Bolivia and Peru to see the ancient drop-spindle technique

Andes Mountains: transportation

Cauca River, Colombia

Patagonian Andes

For Students

Mount Aconcagua

Andes Mountains summary

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Andes Mountains: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2025

News •

From the Andes to the beginning of time: Telescopes detect 13-billion-year-old signal • June 11, 2025, 8:15 AM ET (ScienceDaily)

One of the world's largest copper, gold and silver deposits discovered at very high altitude • June 8, 2025, 6:39 AM ET (Earth.com)

Did You Know?

The summit of Mount Chimborazo in the Andes is the planet's tallest point when measured from the Earth's center.
The Andes are the longest mountain chain in the world.
Potatoes and tomatoes originated in the Andes.

Photos and Videos

Southern and Central Andes and Patagonia

Central and Northern Andes and the Amazon River basin and drainage network

Northern Andes and the Orinoco River basin

Andes Mountains: transportation

Cauca River, Colombia

Patagonian Andes

Mendoza, Argentina: Villavincencio Chapel

Mount Aconcagua

Behold Andean condors soaring among mountaintops of the Andes, a chain that stretches the entire length of South America

Visit Aymara and Quechua people on the Altiplano of Bolivia and Peru to see the ancient drop-spindle technique

Learn how the Andes Mountains block warm moist air, causing heavy rainfall that feeds the Amazon River

See All Videos and Images →

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