The Andes mountain range extends through seven countries. From north to south, these are Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.
The Andes form the world’s longest continental mountain range, running for roughly 7,000 kilometres along the western edge of South America. They include high plateaus, deep valleys, active volcanoes, deserts, glaciers, and tropical mountain ecosystems.
Their formation is closely linked to the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate. That ongoing tectonic process helps explain the range’s earthquakes, volcanic activity, and continued uplift.
The Andes are often confused with the narrower Cordillera Blanca or the Patagonian Andes, which are regional sections or associated subranges. The seven-country figure refers to the full continental Andes system.