Andes Andes MountainsMountainsTerraces for the gods

Andes MountainsAndes MountainsThe Andes run the entire length of The Andes run the entire length of South America, from the humid South America, from the humid tropics of the Caribbean to the ice tropics of the Caribbean to the ice fields of Patagonia. The longest fields of Patagonia. The longest north-south mountain range in the north-south mountain range in the world, the Andes encompass a world, the Andes encompass a tremendous range of ecosystems tremendous range of ecosystems and are home to a rich variety of and are home to a rich variety of plant and animal species and plant and animal species and human communities.human communities.

The black, grey and white Andean Condor is The black, grey and white Andean Condor is usually about 4 ft. long and has a wingspan of usually about 4 ft. long and has a wingspan of about 10 ft.about 10 ft.

highlandsAs the As the elevation elevation changes in changes in the Andes, the Andes, so does so does the the climate. climate. While it While it may be 90 may be 90 degrees degrees and and raining at raining at the base, it the base, it can be dry can be dry and below and below zero at the zero at the summit.summit.

Vertical climate zones

IncasIncas

Originally a warlike Originally a warlike tribe from the Andes tribe from the Andes mountains above mountains above Cuzco. Around 1000 Cuzco. Around 1000 CE this tribe CE this tribe successfully successfully conquered conquered neighboring tribes neighboring tribes and began moving and began moving down into the valley down into the valley of Cuzco. of Cuzco.

Peruvian AndesPeruvian Andes

Macchu PicchuMacchu Picchu

Macchu Macchu PicchuPicchu

Its ruins are located on a high ridge northwest of Cuzco.

CuzcoCuzco

Salt PansSalt Pans

The Andes as seen from a plane flying from The Andes as seen from a plane flying from Santiago, Chile to Buenos Aires, Argentina Santiago, Chile to Buenos Aires, Argentina

Chile National Chile National

ParkPark

Patagonia Ice Fields

Lago, Argentina

LinksPatagonian icefieldsTheLastBoat.co.uk/Chile/chilemain/torres.htmWikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Andes_Chile_ArgentinaNature.ca/notebooks/english/condor