Cordillera facts for kids

A cordillera is a huge system of connected mountain ranges. Think of it like many mountain chains linked together! You can find these massive mountain systems all over the world. A famous example is along the west coast of the Americas.

The word "cordillera" comes from Spanish. It means "little rope," which makes sense because these mountain ranges often look like long, winding ropes across the land.

Scientists who study the Earth's surface, called physical geographers, often use this term. They especially use it for the huge mountain systems in the Americas, like the Andes in South America. These mountains are part of a larger "ridge" that goes all around the Pacific Ocean.

In countries like Colombia and Venezuela, cordilleras are named based on where they are. For example, there's the Western Cordillera, the Central Cordillera, and the Eastern Cordillera. Other countries like Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina also have their own names for these mountain systems.

How Cordilleras Are Formed

These mountain systems have a very complex structure. They are usually formed by two main processes:

• Folding: This happens when huge pieces of the Earth's crust push against each other. It makes the rock layers bend and fold, like wrinkling a rug.
• Faulting: This is when the Earth's crust breaks and moves along cracks called faults.

Often, volcanic activity also happens when cordilleras form. This means you'll find many volcanic peaks within these mountain ranges.

Volcanoes and Peaks

In South America, the Andes cordillera has many volcanoes. One amazing example is Ojos del Salado. It's the highest active volcano in the world! It's also the second-highest point in the Western Hemisphere. While not a volcano itself, Aconcagua in Argentina is the highest point in the Western Hemisphere, standing at about 6,960 meters (22,830 feet) tall. Some of these volcanoes have even erupted in recent history.

Besides volcanoes, the highest parts of cordilleras often have narrow ridges. Some of these ridges are so high that they reach the zone of permanent snow. This means they are always covered in snow and ice!

Valleys and Plateaus

Between the mountain ranges, you'll find many valleys, basins, and low plateaus. Many people live in these areas. These places can be at very different elevations, from low-lying valleys to high plateaus.

Famous Cordilleras Around the World

Cordillera Paine in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile.

Here are some of the most well-known cordilleras:

• American Cordillera: This is a massive chain of mountains that forms the western backbone of both North America and South America.
  • North American Cordillera: This part includes the mountains in western North America. Some examples are:
    • Central Cordillera in Costa Rica
    • Central Cordillera on the island of Hispaniola
    • Neovolcanic Cordillera, an active volcanic belt in Mexico
  • Cordillera de los Andes: Also known as the Andes Mountains, these are the mountain ranges in western South America. Some parts include:
    • Cordillera Blanca in Peru
    • Cordillera de Mérida in Venezuela
    • Cordillera de la Costa (Coastal Cordillera) of Chile
    • Cordillera Paine in Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia
• Arctic Cordillera: These mountains are found along the northeastern edge of the Arctic Archipelago in Canada.
• Central Cordillera of New Guinea.
• Cordillera Central of Luzon in the Philippines.
• East Australian Cordillera: More commonly known as the Great Dividing Range, this is a major mountain feature on the east coast of Australia.
• High-Mountain Asia: This refers to the huge mountain ranges surrounding the Tibetan Plateau. It includes famous ranges like the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, and Tian Shan.