Chile: The Andes
70 million years ago the collision
of tectonic plates formed the Andes, the scale of the Andes
is extraordinary. Some 4,500 miles in length, the range would
stretch from Havana to Juneau Alaska if laid across North America.
These peaks are second only in magnitude to the Himalayas towering
at heights of up to 22,000 feet . The range's elevated spine
creates a obviously defined border between Chile and Argentina
that stretches 2,000 miles. To the north the range is high and
barren while to the south-in the Andean Corridor of Lakes-the
peaks are less intense, glaciated, and blessed with hundreds
of pristine lakes joined by wild rivers. This Andean Corridor
of Lakes is split, half in Chile and half in Argentina and is
known as Lake District-Chileano and Lake District-Argentino.
It is a naturally vivid wonderland of glaciers, forests, lakes,
rivers, fjords, volcanoes and sentinel mountains.
