Bibliography

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/andes.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andes

http://news.softpedia.com/news/9-Amazing-Things-About-Andes-77382.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inca_Empire

http://www.mapsofworld.com/travel/destinations/andes-mountains

http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20120321111927290

http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_12.asp

http://www.english-online.at/history/inca/inca-civilization.htm

http://www.aconcaguaexpeditions.com/ingles/5/consideraciones.htm

http://www.aconcaguaexpeditions.com/ingles/3/normal_route.htm

http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/GCSE/AQA/Restless%20Earth/Andes/Andes%20Case%20study.htm

Day 4

http://mountainguidesinternational.com/?page_id=704

The mountains are often used for mining ( as well as a source of water) so I've seen a number of areas for that.  I saw a hydroelectric power plant and lots of farming space. In my climbing group, there are numerous people so I imagine that tourism would be extremely beneficial to these countries. The temperature along the range varies as it is so large. In the northern part of the Andes it is rainy and warm while down where I am it is wet and cold. As I get higher up, snow starts to cover everything and the temperature ranges from about -20 to -30 degrees Celsius. I've experienced multiple storms and we're anticipating a dangerous electrical storm soon. The terrain has not been too difficult to walk up although the days are very long.

Prep Before The Trip

Tomorrow I embark on my journey up Aconcagua. I thought that in preparation I should gather some information about what I'm getting myself into.

 

http://sprinterlife.com/2011/06/the-door-to-the-andes-the-longest-mountain-range-in-the-world.html

The Andes Mountain Range

The Andes are located on the western side of South America. It crosses Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Venezuela and Colombia.

http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/GCSE/AQA/Restless%20Earth/Andes/Andes%20Case%20study.htm

About 45 million years ago, the Nazca and South American plates collided at a convergent boundary. A convergent boundary is where plates come together and push into each other. As a result of this mountains usually form because the land is pushed upwards. Most of the mountains in the range are volcanic as it is a subduction zone. A subduction zone is where two oceanic plates collide and one is pushed under the other. As the South American plate is newer and less dense than the Nazca, it sits on top.

http://www.geo.cornell.edu/hawaii/220/PRI/PRI_PT_subduction.html

In the 14 and 15 hundreds, the Andes were home to the Incan Empire. Most peasants in current Peru are descendants of the Incas, who's language, Quechua, is now an official language. People in Peru would obviously consider the range important as it is where their ancestors flourished. 

Introduction

My name is Amelia. Over the next few weeks I will be climbing Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Andes, as part of my research.
I shall report my findings on this blog so expect:

• Maps
• The origins of Aconcagua and the Andes in general
• My experience while climbing
• And more...

My climb begins soon and I am very excited to share my journey with you.

Disclaimer

I am a student and am not a climber. This blog is a project for my geography class and is in no way my personal experience.