The Andes mountain range is located in South America and extends through portions of the present-day countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. It is the world's longest mountain range and the highest mountain range outside of Asia.

1. 4400 miles long, 300 miles wide
2. Highest Mountain peak: Aconcagua in northern Argentina at 22,841 feet
3. Contains a sixth of all plant life in less than 1 percent of the world's land area.

The Andes are formed by the movement of the Nazca plate under the South American plate, and are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Located on the western edge of the South American continent, they lie between a very slim coastal plain to the west, and the vast reaches of the Amazon Rainforest to the east. The runoff from the Andes helps create the Amazon River. Some of the highest peaks in the world are in the Andes, including Aconcagua in northern Argentina at 22,841 feet. Lake Titicaca, in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia, is the highest navigable lake in the world. The Inca Civilization extended over much of the Andes.