Adapting to the Andes

The Andes Mountains are located in South America. They are the longest mountain chain in the world. Despite the harsh conditions, people have adapted to life in the magnificent Andes Mountains.

Farming in the Andes can be a challenge, but people have adapted. The people in Tierra Caliente grow crops that grow well in hot climates, like bananas and sugar. Tierra Helada grows quinoa because it grows well in the cold. Tierra Templada grows corn and and coffee. Tierra Fria grows potatoes, wheat, barley, apples, and pears. Tierra Caliente and Tierria Fria use vertical trade so they can have more variety.

Buildings in the Andes change based on the climate. In the cold of Tierra Fria and Tierra Helada, houses have thick adobe walls to trap the heat and keep out the cold. Tierra Caliente has bamboo houses on stilts with many windows to proctect from floods and let a breeze come in. In Tierra Templada, most people live in brick houses, while richer people live in hacendias. "The flower industry provides flowers for our lawns," says Maria, from Tierra Templada.

The Andes have harsh conditions that we have to adapt to. In Tierra Caliente, people waer light clothes to keep them cool. Tierra Templada has a warm climate, perfect for growing flowers which is one of the main money sources. The lack of oxygen in Tierra Fria causes people to have larger lungs. "Having larger lungs lets us do activities without passing out," Leonardo says. Copper, silver, and other precious metals are mined in Tierra Helada. They then con trade them down to the other zones for money and food. They also get fresh water from melting glaciers at the tops of the mountains. This is a smart idea, but the glaciers also can cause floods.

The people that live in the Andes Mountains have completely changed their life to adapt to the climate. Even though it seems tough, the residents of the Andes manage to stay alive in the harsh but rewarding Andes Mountains.