If among the countries of the world a competition was held for the most unusual form, then the first place, without a doubt, would take a country called Chile. With a total length of 6,400 km, its width does not exceed 200 kilometers. Such a unique geographical location could not but affect the country's relief. From our article you will find out if there are mountains in Chile and what they are in height.
Chile on a map of America
The state of Chile is located in South America and occupies a narrow strip of the Pacific coast. The country stretched from the Atacama desert in the north to the island of Tierra del Fuego in the south. At the same time, Chile has only three neighbors: Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. The length of the border with the last country is 5 308 km.
In addition to a colossal extension from north to south, Chile also has a huge degree of ruggedness of its coastline. This is especially true of the southern part of the country, which is a kind of โvinaigretteโ of islands, peninsulas and archipelagos of various sizes. In Patagonia archipelago alone, there are several thousand islands and freestanding rocks.
Mountains of chile
As you know, the western tip of South America is occupied by the Andes mountain range. It is she who is represented in Chile.
The country is located in the central and southern part of the Andean mountain system. In the relief of Chile, three parallel belts are clearly distinguished:
- Main Cordillera with heights of up to 6880 meters.
- Coastal Cordillera with heights of up to 3200 meters.
- Longitudinal valley (located between the two above-mentioned ranges).
The mountains in Chile come close to the ocean, forming a picturesque and densely indented coastline with bays and cliffs. Up to 35 degrees south latitude of the Andes in Chile, they often exceed 6,000 meters in height. The main peaks here are of volcanic origin. With the advance to the south, the Andes are declining, gradually turning into the plains of Patagonia.
Highest point in the country
At the peak of Ojos del Salado, several achievements at once. Firstly, this is the highest point of Chile, secondly, the second highest mountain in South America, thirdly, the highest volcano in the world. True, the last eruption here took place in the millennium before last.
The absolute height of Ojos del Salado is 6,887 meters. The summit is located on the border of Chile and Argentina. The volcano was first conquered in 1937 by Polish climbers Jan Schepanski and Justin Voลพnis. It is known that Ojos del Salado among the Indians of the Inca Empire was revered as a sacred mountain.