The Andean countries are the states of the Andean Community. It was formed in 1969 by six countries: Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Colombia.
Currently, this group functions as a customs union. A common customs tariff has been introduced, a common trade policy is being pursued with respect to other states.
Geological structure and minerals
Andes - the greatest mountain system in the world. The length of the mountain belt is 9000 km, in height they are second only to the Himalayas. 20 peaks of mountains exceed the height of 6 km, and the highest point - the Aconcagua volcano - reaches 6960 m. The Andes are located on the edge of the lithospheric plate - the South American, which is joined by folds of rocks squeezed out of the mantle when the Nazca oceanic plate crawls under the mainland plate.
Mountain ranges that outline the coast in parallel rows are chains of volcanoes. The volcanoes of South America are active, they periodically wake up and pour out lava that fills the intermountaintroughs and valleys, forming high lava plateaus.
Mineral resources of this part of the mainland are confined to intermountain troughs and foothill depressions of the Andes. The Andean countries are distinguished by the fact that they have large reserves of rare minerals. Minerals such as copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, tin, etc. are mined here.
Having considered the geological structure, we can say what minerals the Andean countries have. The resources of the states of Latin America are very diverse. In the mountains there are such natural resources as gypsum, veins of coal, s alt, mercury, gold, platinum, silver. All Andean countries boast a sufficient supply of precious and semi-precious stones, such as amethysts, topazes, agates, etc.
Andean Climate
Andes is a huge mountain system, the components of which differ from each other. For the convenience of studying the Andes, they were divided into four physical and geographical countries, which are united by a number of features.
The Andean countries of Latin America are warm southern states, but their climate is slightly different from each other.
Northern Andes
On the territory of these mountains are: part of Ecuador, Venezuela and Colombia. This physical and geographical country includes: the Caribbean Andes, the Andes of Ecuador and the Northwestern Andes.
The climate here is equatorial and subequatorial. The amount of precipitation on the Pacific coast reaches 8000 mm per year, in the interior there is less precipitation, but there are no dry periods.it happens. Moisture decreases towards the east, only summer-green light forests grow on the lower parts of the slopes of the mountains, but at an altitude above 1000 m wet hylaea begin.
Inner slopes have less rainfall, so only summergreen or hardwood forests are found here.
Central Andes
They are conventionally divided into the Bolivian and Peruvian Andes, because the territories of these countries are located in this part of the mountain system.
The Central Andes have a fairly dry climate. The driest part is the Bolivian Andes. The amount of precipitation does not exceed 300 mm per year. But starting from an altitude of 3500 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 °С. In summer, this part of the Andes is quite warm, + 18 ° C, in winter the temperature is + 15 ° C. Temperatures are cooler on the Pacific coast.
Subtropical Andes
Almost entirely here is the territory of Chile. In the northern part of the mountains, the amount of precipitation is very low - 10 mm per year. Here is the Atacama Desert.
South of the desert, rainfall increases to 1500mm a year.
The average temperature in January is +22°С, in July - from +12°С to +18°С.
In the part where rainfall allows, temperate rainforests grow. As precipitation decreases, hard-leaved forests appear, shrub vegetation, whichgoes 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 falls annually, and the temperature in summer and winter is +15°С.
On the western slopes, the amount of precipitation decreases to 1500 mm, and the average annual temperature increases to +20°С - +24°С.
Andean Community
All Andean countries share a common history. Even before the development of these lands by the colonialists from Western Europe, the inhabitants of the mountains - the Indians - developed their culture and economy. The ancient state on the territory of the Andes was strong economically and socially. Not only agriculture and animal husbandry developed here, but various minerals were also mined. All this was destroyed with the coming to power of 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 different ways, therefore, the modern economy of Latin America is significantly different.
To improve their situation, the Andean countries formed a union - the Andean Community. In this way they wanted to expand national markets that were fragmented. As a result, a common customs tariff was introduced, general industrial planning took place, and various incentives were granted to the least economically developed countries - Bolivia and Ecuador.
One of the main featuresAS is the creation of an institutional structure where the supranational function is limited. The Andean Community model is similar to that of the European Union, with only minor differences.
The AU has three main bodies:
- Presidential Council. Here comes the definition of integration policy, taking into account the interests of the subregion. The results achieved are evaluated.
- Council of Foreign Ministers. Performs various functions related to foreign policy affairs. Basically, this is the coordination of the group's participation in various international negotiations and organizations.
- General secretariat. This 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.
