Aconcagua is the highest peak in the Andes and in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres.
Located in Mendoza Province, Argentina, Aconcagua rises to about 6,961 metres above sea level. It is part of the Principal Cordillera, the central section of the Andes near the border with Chile. Although often described as a volcano, Aconcagua is not volcanic; it is a mountain formed by tectonic uplift.
Aconcagua is also the highest mountain outside Asia, a distinction that makes it one of the most important reference points in world-mountain geography. Its broad, high-altitude slopes attract trekkers, while the upper mountain presents severe cold, wind and altitude hazards.
The normal route is technically less demanding than many 8,000-metre Himalayan climbs, but altitude sickness remains a serious danger. The mountain’s name is commonly linked to Indigenous regional languages, though its exact linguistic origin is debated.