Altiplano in South America - An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty ~ Apex Planet

Altiplano in South America - An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The Altiplano, also known as the Andean Plateau, is a high plateau that towers over the southern Andes, the longest mountain range in the world. It is located in west-central South America where the Andes are at their widest. The Altiplano is the most extensive are of high plateau on Earth outside of Tibet. It has an average height of about 3,750 meters.

The Altiplano is a sediment filled depression between the eastern and the western chains of the Andes. This area of inland drainage occupies parts of northern Chile and Argentina, western Bolivia and southern Peru. The filling of the depression occurred millions of years ago as an ancient seabed was pushed up when the modern peaks were elevated. The Altiplano, which was originally an area of land covered entirely by Lake Ballivan, has drained over time and is now an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The Altiplano is a place of amazing natural beauty. Lake Titicaca, straddling the Peru–Bolivia border, is its best known geographical feature. Another beautiful lake here is the Poopo, a salt lake that extends south of Oruro, Bolivia. The Altiplano is simply a stunning part of the globe encompassing areas such as Salar de Uyuni and Salar de Coipasa, two large and beautiful dry salt flats formed after the Altiplano paleolakes dried out.

Attractions along the Altiplano include Atacama Desert and Amazon Rainforest. Atacama Desert is the driest place on earth and is situated south of the Altiplano. To the east of the Altiplano is the largest tropical rainforest on Earth, Amazon Rainforest. Some areas of the Altiplano are protected, including Chile’s Lauca National Park, near the town of Arica.