A mountain chain that runs north and south along the entire west coast of
South America. Formed by an oceanic plate (
Nazca Plate) subducting under a contintental plate (
South American Plate), the Andes Mountains are
volcanic just like the
Cascade Mountains in
North America.
The
coca plant was
domesicated in the Andes by the
Incas and the plant is still grown there today.