South America

South America is dominated by the Andes Mountains, the world’s longest continental mountain range, stretching over 7,000 kilometers from Venezuela to Patagonia. The Andes feature Aconcagua (6,961 m) — the highest peak outside Asia — and form the backbone of the continent, influencing its weather, biodiversity, and human history.

The Andes consist of several distinct cordilleras and plateaus, including the Altiplano — one of the largest high plateaus on Earth. The range includes numerous active volcanoes such as Cotopaxi, Ojos del Salado, and Chimborazo, the latter being the furthest point from Earth’s center due to the planet’s equatorial bulge. South America hosts over 300 peaks above 6,000 meters, concentrated mainly in the central and southern Andes.

In the east, the Brazilian Highlands and the Guiana Shield contain some of the planet’s oldest rock formations, with tepui mesas like Mount Roraima rising abruptly from the jungle. These regions date back over 2 billion years, forming a geological contrast to the young Andes. South America’s mountains harbor immense ecological diversity — from the glaciers of Patagonia to the cloud forests of Peru — and are the source of major rivers such as the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná.