書邊事

安地斯山脈(Andes)

南美大陸西部的山系，為世界偉大自然景觀之一。南北延伸約8,850公里。在委內瑞拉境內大致與加勒比海岸平行，然後轉向西南進入哥倫比亞。在那裡形成三大不同地塊：東、中、西科迪勒拉山。到了厄瓜多境內形成兩條平行的科迪勒拉山脈，一條面向太平洋，另一條往亞馬遜盆地沈降。這些山脈繼續往南走，進入祕魯；其境內最高峰是在布蘭卡山的瓦斯卡蘭山（海拔6,768公尺）。在玻利維亞境內，安地斯山脈又形成兩個不同地區，介於其間的是阿爾蒂普拉諾高原。沿著智利-阿根廷邊界，它們形成複雜的山鏈，包括最高峰阿空加瓜山。在智利南部山脈陡降入海，形成無數的島嶼。安地斯山地區有多個火山帶，形成火環（Ring of Fire）的一部分。這裡也是多條大河的發源地，其中包括奧利諾科河、亞馬遜河和皮科馬約河。

English version：

Andes

Mountain system,western South America. One of the great natural features of the globe,the Andes extend north-south about 5,500 mi (8,850 km). They run parallel to the Caribbean coast in Venezuela before turning southwest and entering Colombia. There they form three distinct massifs: the Cordilleras Oriental,Central,and Occidental. In Ecuador they form two parallel cordilleras,one facing the Pacific and the other descending toward the Amazon basin. These ranges continue southward into Peru; the highest Peruvian peak is Mount Huascarán,at 22,205 ft (6,768 m),in the Cordillera Blanca. In Bolivia,the Andes again form two distinct regions; between them lies the Altiplano. Along the Chile-Argentina border,they form a complex chain that includes their highest peak,Mount Aconcagua. In southern Chile part of the cordillera descends beneath the sea,forming innumerable islands. The Andes are studded with numerous volcanoes that form part of the Ring of Fire. They also are the source of many rivers,including the Orinoco,Amazon,and Pilcomayo.