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THE ANDES
The Andes, running along South America's western side, is among the world's longest mountain ranges. It is the mountainous spine which dramatically passes through Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.
The Andes, the continent’s most magnificent natural attraction stretches for over 7,500km – from Venezuela all the way to Patagonia – and has spawned, in one way or another, the continent’s incredible natural biodiversity. Its varied terrain encompasses glaciers, volcanoes, grassland, desert, lakes and forest.
Renowned for its incredible biodiversity, the Andes Mountains comprise three different main climatic zones: Tropical Andes (in the north) – Venezuela, Colombia Dry Andes (in the centre) - Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia Wet Andes, in the south – Chile, Argentina
The Amazon River originates in the Andes Mountains.
2 Everything about South America is directly related to the existence of the Andes: not only the dramatically different landscapes but also the indigenous cultures and their histories, their diverging cuisines, among countless other aspects.
Because of the sheer size, the varied landscape / terrain and climactic conditions of the Andes, the range supports an astronomical array of wildlife. Not only do the Andes house many different types of birds, including the flamingo and the condor, it also provides an environment for the mountain lion, the llama, and the spectacled bear. It houses as well the giant toad and the Andean iguana, one of the few lizards to be found in such a cold climate. It actually accommodates under 600 different species of mammals, an equal number of reptile species, 400 species of fish, over 1,700 types of birds, more than 1,000 amphibians and way over 30,000 species of endemic plants.
The Andes are Latin America’s most rewarding destinations for active travellers, and for lovers of high-altitude adventures, there really is no more promising playground. From climbing to hiking, white water rafting, cycling, horse-riding, skiing, stargazing and so much more: these are just some of the phenomenal ways you can squeeze the most out of an Andes Mountain adventure.
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