The Southern Andes are located within Argentina and Chile and also includes the Patagonian Andes region. At position eight is the Zagros ranges which are 1,800 kilometers (932 miles) long. A Polish team was the first to successfully climb Aconcagua from the eastern side in 1934. The range spans the full length of the western side of South America, passing through seven countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Aconcagua is the highest peak, at about 6,962 m (22,841 ft).. Located in Argentina, it is approximately 4,500 miles long and the highest point is Aconcagua at 22,384 feet tall. First, the highest and longest mountain ranges on Earth are listed, followed by more comprehensive alphabetical lists organized by continent. The Andes is the longest mountain range in South America. The world's longest mountain chain, and the highest outside Asia, is the Andes, running 7000 miles from Colombia to the southern tip of South America. By In the highlands and on the mountains, the vegetation mostly consists of shrubs, grasses, small trees and cultivated plants like potatoes, tuber, Quinua grain, and various beans. Visit our corporate site. Completing the list of 15 longest mountain ranges in Asia are the Kolyma in Russia and Khingan in China which are 1,300 kilometers and 1,200 kilometers respectively. The Andes is the longest mountain range in South America, and was formed during the Mezosoic Era and Tertiary period through the movement of tectonic plates. Located in the North Eastern Hemisphere, the continent is divided into 48 countries. Thank you for signing up to Live Science. This list does not include submarine mountain ranges. Other animals include llamas and alpacas; the Andean condor, the largest vulture in South America; and the vicuña, a member of the camel family. The Himalayas are the most outstanding with the Everest peak and over one hundred more mountains. 2. Vicuñas, which live in the high alpine areas of the Andes, are related to camels. © Kim Ann Zimmermann - Live Science Contributor Ranges in the oceans and on other celestial bodies are listed afterwards. Moreover, the World's highest volcanoes are in the Andes, including Ojos del Salado (6,893m / 22,615ft). Mountain Ranges in South America: Notable Mountains, Hikes, And All Things Altitude, Hiking In Mexico – 9 Top Trails For Hiking Enthusiasts, Quilotoa Loop Hike – 10 Expert Tips (A Complete Guide), Hiking In Chile – Top 8 Hiking Spots (Expert Guide), Hiking In Argentina – Overview Of The Best Hiking Spots (Expert Guide), Climbing Cotopaxi – 11 Expert Tips For An Epic Summit, Chimborazo Climb – Everything You Need To Know (Complete Guide). In the high altitudes of the Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile segments of the range, there are also forests of Polylepis, a group of tree species that have distinctive gnarled shapes. As the world’s longest mountain range, the Andes stretch from the northern part of the continent, where they begin in Venezuela and Colombia, to the southern tip of Chile and Argentina. The Classic Inca Trail leads you high into the mountains, passing various Inca ruins before reaching Machu Picchu - the iconic Inca Citadel. The Northern Andes span through Venezuela, northern Ecuador and Columbia. — Kim Ann Zimmermann, LiveScience Contributor. They are members of the rose family. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com, Countries By Percentage Of World Population, The Smallest Countries In The World By Total Land Area, Biggest Stadiums in The World By Capacity. Mountain chains are typically formed by the process of plate tectonics. The Andes are a large mountain range spanning through multiple different countries. The route is approximately 30km long and takes about 3 to 4 days. Most of the volcanoes in the region belong to this range including Nevado del Huila at 5,364 meters. The climate of the Andes varies greatly between its different sections. The Andes mountain range dominates South America’s landscape. The Andes of South America is the longest mountain range in the world, stretching for an estimated distance of 7,000 km (4,350 miles). There are over 850 peaks that have an elevation between 5000m-6000m, and another 100 peaks over 6000m in altitude. Image Gallery: Journey into the Tropical Andes, Related: Satellite Image of Chile-Bolivian Border, Nazca Lines: Mysterious Geoglyphs in Peru, Tiwanaku: Pre-Incan Civilization in the Andes, These could be the funniest animal pictures ever, Gold miners discover 100 million-year-old meteorite crater Down Under, RV-size asteroid to get closer to Earth than the moon, Prehistoric desert footprints are earliest evidence for humans on Arabian Peninsula, Wizard battles and demon circles revealed in newly translated Christian texts, Climate scientists uncover new record-low temperature in Greenland.