Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America, is located in the Andes mountain range.
The Andes form a vast mountain system along the western edge of South America, stretching through Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Aconcagua stands in Argentina's Mendoza Province, near the Chilean border, and rises to about 6,967 meters above sea level.
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas and the highest peak outside Asia. It is also one of the Seven Summits, the highest mountain on each continent. Although its altitude is extreme, the normal northwest route is considered a non-technical climb because it does not usually require advanced rock or ice-climbing skills. High altitude, severe weather, and thin air still make it demanding.
The Alps contain famous peaks such as Mont Blanc, while the Rockies include Mount Elbert and the Himalayas contain Mount Everest. None of those ranges holds South America's highest summit. Aconcagua's location in the Andes also makes it a useful geography clue: the range parallels the continent's Pacific coast and was created largely by tectonic activity along the western margin.