The Andes represent the longest continental mountain range in the world, stretching roughly 7,000 kilometers along the western coast of South America. They pass through seven countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. The range was formed by the subduction of the Nazca Plate and Antarctic Plate beneath the South American Plate. It is home to Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of Asia at 6,961 meters. The Andes are crucial for the global climate, acting as a barrier that creates the arid Atacama Desert to the west and the lush Amazon Basin to the east. Culturally, the mountains were the cradle of the Inca Empire. Today, they remain a primary source of minerals such as copper, tin, and silver. The range also features unique high-altitude ecosystems like the Páramo and the Altiplano, which support specialized wildlife like the Andean condor and vicuñas.