The Andes crossing from Chile to Argentina...
Trip Start
Jan 12, 2006
1
89
188
Trip End
Ongoing
Andes, Chile
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Pas (Aussie mate) was really curious about the Andes and sent me a mail a few weeks ago asking about them. My reply was "a maountain range from almost the very north of South America to the very south, not much to tell buddy, i see them on just about every bus trip on the western side of the continent".
I now realise after a bus ride from Santiago to Mendoza just how wrong i was.... The Andes are absolutely spectacular. From the shades of red, brown, grey and yellow mountains to the turquoise lakes, they are beautiful.
Much work has been completed to enable this trip, the Andes are full of tunnels, amazing to be driving through them. Very scary as they are only 2 very narrow lanes, where from the bus window it doesnt look like a mini could pass!!
Andes border crossing...
! Also scary are the hairpin turns, check out the photos ihave posted.It is impossible to think of armies crossing these ranges to go to war hundreds of years ago.
Most spectacular is the border between Argentina and Chile, nestled high in snow capped Andes!!! Awesome! Check out the pics.
I dont know much about the earth, moutains and volcanos but have learnt a little something of how the Andes were formed. There are two plates that collide, the Nazca plate, which is beneath the Eastern Pacific and the South American plate which covers the whole continent. These 2 plates collide to create earthquakes and erupt Volcanos. Thats what i learnt. Also learnt (and saw, the only place where the Andes cross South America horizontally, in Ushuaia). I welcome any comments from anyone who knows better so i can rectify this site...
Another misconception was what i though was poluted water in Santiago as it was grey, turns out that is the natural colour of the water that flows in the Mapocho river from the Andes.
Truly amazing bus ride, highly recommend it.
