ANDES MOUNTAIN RANGE

Click to enlargeThe range of the Andes, is longer than 5,000km (3,105mi) along South America, been the second highest range in the world after the Himalayas, and still growing.

At these days the Andes are shared by seven countries, from North to South: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Each one with thousands of rivers, lakes, mountains, valleys and desserts; Rich in culture, landscape, flora and fauna.

South of the Ecuador, the range widens more than 200km (124mi) extending out from the beaches of the Pacific to the flat lands of the Amazon jungle. In this widened section, the mountains become higher and steeper. There are about 600mountains reaching over 6,000m (19,680ft) and thousands of others reaching over 5,000m (16,400ft) , some of them still un-climbed.

The Andean mountain range, splits in two major branches in Peruvian territory (north of Titicaca Lake): the Western Volcanic Range, and the Eastern Mountain Range.

Farther south at the border between Chile and Argentina, both branches joins again.

From its highest point, Aconcagua 6,959m (22,825ft) and all the other above 6,000m (19,680ft) mountains, to the West is the Coast of the Pacific, all along this land you find from fertile valleys to impressive desserts. Towards the East you descend going trough the cloud forests to the plains of the Amazon in the north, and the Chaco in the South.
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Apolobamba Mountain range
Cordillera Real
Quimsa Cruz range
Volcanic range
Cordillera de Lipez
Atacama Desert & National Parks
Southern Atacama & Higher Volcanoes
Chilean Patagonia

 Apolobamba mountain range
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The mountain range is located on the Northern extreme of the Bolivian Andes (northwest of Illampu, and north of Titicaca lake) and its northern section makes the border with Peru. It is composed of many awesome massifs and houses the longest glacier of Bolivia 11km (6mi) long, in the southwestern face of Chaupi Orkho, the highest peak in the Apolobamba. Akamani Peak is also very important, since it is the holy mountain of the Kallawayas, the healing-shamans. It lies on the southern end of the range, just in front of the famous Kallawaya village of Curva.

Apolobamba is one of the most remote ranges in Bolivia. There are many mountains and peaks yet to be explored and the treks traverse land never touched by civilization leaving nature in its truest form.

 Cordillera Real
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The Cordillera Real is the most prominent range in Bolivia. It is considered the “backbone” of the Andean lands forming a northwest to southeast line between all the other Bolivian ranges. There is a geographical gradient of over 5000m (16400ft) extending from high snow covered mountains to the river beds in the deep humid Cloud Forest. From the top of the Peñas rocky ridge, it is possible to see the whole of the 160km (99mi) range.

Illampu-Jankouma, the largest massif of the Cordillera Real, is located in the Northern part of the range. Illimani, the highest peak , sits in the southern part of the range and is revered as the “protector” of La Paz city.

Because of past agricultural and mining activities, many roads were built in this area making the mountain ranges incredibly accessible, with relatively short and free of any technical difficulty approaches. All of these factors make this range very popular among climbers and trekkers.

 Quimsa Cruz range
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Known as the “Bolivian Yosemite”, the Quimsa Cruz (three crosses) range is only 40km (24mi) long and 15km (9mi) wide, and is without a doubt an Andean microcosmos. Many ecological levels are contained within this area: from snow-covered glaciers to humid, tropical forests. By foot, all this areas are just few hours apart. This range is divided into two main regions: the Southern region consisting of snow-covered peaks and massive glaciers, and the Northern region, encompassed in a base of granodiorite and granite spires (a true rock climber’s paradise).

On the western side of this mountain range, there are many old abandoned roads, which lead you directly to the base of many glaciers. All this area has yet to be explored leaving many of the treasures of its wildlife intact.

 Volcanic range (Cordillera Occidental)
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It makes a natural border between Bolivia and Peru & Chile. It also separates the Bolivian highlands from the Atacama Desert. Some of those volcanoes are snow covered and glaciated like Sajama, the highest mountain in Bolivia at 6549m (21486ft) . Some have “fossilized” glaciers like Ramaditas. Others are still active, like Ollague and Guallatiri where there are very active fumaroles venting sulfur gases from their flanks, or the Putana where there is liquid lava inside its crater or the Uturunco, presently the fastest growing volcano on earth. The rest of this area, although is not considered active, it is by no means extinct, since there are several “signs” of volcanic activity.

Most peaks get snow in the rainy season and occasionally during the winter cold fronts that bring low pressure and humidity from as far as Patagonia. If the snow freezes, it makes upward treks even much easier. Without snow, most of the treks involve walking at high altitudes over ashes, sand and loose rocks.

 Cordillera de Lipez
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 Atacama Desert & National Parks
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 Southern Atacama & Higher Volcanoes
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 Chilean Patagonia
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