The Andes Mountains

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The Andes Mountains

• Scott, Cara, Ben
• Hour 1

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Summary

• What/Where are the Andes Mountains?
• What type of fault and boundary?
• How have these plates helped to form the
  landscape and climate of South America?
• What natural disasters do these plates bring?
• What is going to happen in the future?

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What/Where are the Andes Mountains

• The Andes mountains are located is South American
  and run from Cape Horn to Panama along the
  western coast.
• They are located on the South American plate
  which is passing over the NAZCA plate because of
  subduction.
• Part of the Ring of Fire.

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Type of fault and boundary
The Andes Mountains are an example of a reverse
fault/convergent boundary- two plates move
towards each other and eventually collide forcing
one plate to move under the other.
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How have these plates help to form the landscape
and climate?

• As the nazca plate slides under the continental
  plate, the nazca plate begins to melt into magma
  and fuel volcanoes.
• Along with new volcanoes and mountains being
  created, a deep sea trench begins to form.
• Mountains affect climate in many ways. The Andes
  act as a wall, changing the atmospheric
  circulation. Also mountains change patterns in
  precipitation and seasonal heating. Creates a
  Rainshadow.

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NATURAL DISASTERS

• South America has more volcanoes than any other
  region, 204.
• In 1985 a volcanic eruption killed at least
  20,000 villagers. Many of these deaths were
  caused by large mud flows.
• Since 1990, six earthquakes have occurred between
  Colombia and Peru with a magnitude of 8.0 or
  greater on the Richter scale.
• Most schools near the Andes Mountains run at
  least two earthquake drills a year.

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People

• Many farming villages can be found on the
  mountains but few other people actually live on
  the mountains.
• Many large cities have been settled west of the
  Andes near the Pacific Ocean Lima, Peru
  Santiago, Chile.
• In the past, ideas and customs did not travel far
  from their origins because the Andes acted as a
  barrier.
• Tourist- many tourist travel to South America to
  enjoy the fantastic scenery.

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Future

• The Nazca plate will continue to be forced
  beneath the South American plate causing many new
  volcanoes to be formed.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

• ENCARTA 95
• www.pbs.org/wnet/savageearth/hellscrut/html.
• www.gfsc.nasa.gov/gfsc/service/gallery/
  fact_sheet/earthsci/earth.html
• www.citytel.net/PRSS/depts/geog12/litho/andes.htm
• http//enterprise.cc.uakron.edu/geology/
  natscigeo.htm