What Makes the Andes the Longest Mountain Range on Land?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What makes the Andes the longest mountain range on land?

The Big Idea

The Andes run down the western edge of South America for about 4,300 miles! That is the longest mountain range on land, and it passes through seven countries. Let's find out why it is so long.

Plates Collide

Step one: plates collide. Along the coast, one piece of Earth's crust slides under another. This slow push, over millions of years, crumples and lifts the land into a long wall of mountains.

Still Rising

Step two: still rising. The pushing has not stopped, so the Andes keep rising, bit by bit. Many volcanoes dot the range, and earthquakes can happen there too.

Many Habitats

Step three: many habitats. Along the way, the Andes have snowy peaks, high plateaus, deserts, and rainforests on their slopes. Condors and llamas live here, and people have farmed these slopes for thousands of years.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Snowy peaks shine high above the clouds. Volcanoes are scattered all along the range. Some dry deserts sit on the slopes. Llamas live in the high, grassy places, carrying loads for local families.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! The Andes are the longest above-water mountain range on Earth. They stretch through seven countries. Aconcagua, their tallest peak, is almost 23,000 feet high. Birds called condors glide on the wind above them.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Stretch a string along the Andes on a map. Then lay the same string across your own country on the map. Which is longer? Tell a grown-up what you find! Share what you discover with a grown-up.

Outro

The Andes are a super long wall of mountains that keeps growing. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!