Andes - what countries are these? Andean countries: climate, resources

The Andean countries are the states of the Andean Community. It was formed in 1969 by six countries: Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Colombia and Chile.

At present, this group functions as a customs union. A common customs tariff was introduced, and a common trade policy was applied to other states.

Geological structure and mineral resources

The Andes are the greatest mountain system in the world. The length of the mountain belt is 9000 km, in height they are inferior only to the Himalayas. 20 peaks of the mountains exceed the altitude of 6 km, and the highest point - the Aconcagua volcano - reaches 6960 m. The Andes are on the edge of the lithospheric plate - South American, to which are joined the folds of rocks squeezed from the mantle when the oceanic Nazca plate slides under the main plate.

Mountain ridges, parallel rows of contouring the coast, are chains of volcanoes. Volcanoes of South America are active, they periodically wake up and pour out lava, which fills intermountain troughs and valleys, forming high-altitude lava plateaus.

The minerals of this part of the continent are confined to the intermontane troughs and the foothills of the Andes. Andean countries stand out because they have large reserves of rare minerals. Here minerals such as copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, tin, etc. are mined.

Having considered the geological structure, it is possible to say what minerals the Andean countries have. Resources of Latin American countries are very diverse. In the mountains there are such natural resources as gypsum, veins of coal, salt, mercury, gold, platinum, silver. All Andean countries can boast of a sufficient supply of precious and semiprecious stones, for example amethysts, topazes, agates, etc.

The climate of the Andean countries

The Andes are a huge mountain system, the components of which differ from each other. For the convenience of studying, the Andes were divided into four physico-geographical countries, which are united by a number of features.

The Andean countries of Latin America are warm southern states, but their climate differs slightly from each other.

Northern Andes

On the territory of these mountains are: part of Ecuador, Venezuela and Colombia. This physiographic country includes: the Caribbean Andes, Andes of Ecuador and the North-West Andes.

The climate here is equatorial and subequatorial. The amount of precipitation on the Pacific coast reaches 8000 mm per year, in the inner regions there are less precipitation, but there are no dry periods. In the direction of the east, the moisture content decreases, on the lower parts of the mountain slopes there grow only summer-green light forests, but at an altitude above 1000 m, wet gileas begin.

On the inner slopes, the amount of precipitation is less, therefore here there are only summer-green or hard-leaved forests.

Central Andes

Conditionally they are divided into Bolivian and Peruvian Andes, tk. The territories of these countries are located in this part of the mountain system.

The Central Andes differ from the dry climate. The driest part is the Bolivian Andes. The amount of precipitation does not exceed 300 mm per year. But from an altitude of 3,500 m above sea level, the amount of precipitation increases, so potatoes, barley and other cereals are grown here. All major cities are also at this altitude.

The average temperature during the year is + 20-23 ° C. In summer, this part of the Andes is warm enough, +18 ° C, in winter the temperature is + 15 ° C. On the Pacific coast the temperature is lower.

Subtropical Andes

Almost entirely here is the territory of Chile. In the northern part of the mountains, the amount of precipitation is very small - 10 mm per year. Here is the Atacama Desert.

South of the desert the amount of precipitation increases to 1500 mm per year.

The average temperature in January is + 22 ° C, in July - from + 12 ° C to + 18 ° C.

In the part where the amount of precipitation allows, the rain forests of the temperate zone grow. As the precipitation decreases, hard-leaved forests appear, shrub vegetation, which goes into the desert.

Patagonian Andes

This part of the mountain system is the lowest and fragmented. On their western slopes about 5000 mm of precipitation a year falls, and the temperature in summer and winter is + 15 ° C.

On the western slopes, the amount of precipitation decreases to 1500 mm, and the average annual temperature increases to + 20 ° C to + 24 ° C.

Andean Community

All Andean countries have a common history. Even before the development of these lands by the colonizers from Western Europe, the inhabitants of the mountains - the Indians - developed their culture and economy. The ancient state in the territory of the Andes was strong economically and socially. Not only agriculture and livestock breeding developed here, but mining of various minerals also took place. All this was destroyed with the coming to power of the conquerors from Great Britain, France and Portugal.

The colonies brought quite a lot of income to the first countries. The development of the economy went in one direction. But after the liberation of states from colonial dependence the Andean countries went in different ways, therefore, the modern economies of Latin America are significantly different.

To improve their situation, the Andean countries formed an alliance - the Andean Community. So they wanted to expand national markets, which were fragmented. As a result, a common customs tariff was introduced, general industrial planning occurred, and the least economically developed states - Bolivia and Ecuador - were granted various benefits.

One of the main features of the AU is the creation of an institutional structure, where the supranational function is limited. The model of the Andean Community is similar to the model of the European Union, with only minor differences.

The AU includes three main bodies:

- The Presidential Council. Here the definition of an integration policy is taking into account the interests of the subregion. The results are estimated.

- Council of Foreign Ministers. Performs various functions related to foreign affairs. This is mainly coordination of the group's participation in various international negotiations and organizations.

- General Secretariat. It is an executive body headed by the Secretary-General elected by the Council of Ministers.

Other subsidiary bodies: Andean Parliament, Andean Court, General Secretariat, etc.

The Andean countries in South America are like the European Union in Europe.