From the Bottom Up: Ecological Zones of the Andes
Oct
The longest mountain range in the world, containing the highest peaks in the New World and the highest anywhere except for the Himalayas, is home to flora and fauna that varies with altitude. Six distinct ecological zones may be described for the Andes. In order of increasing altitude, they are:
(1) The Lower Selva (262 – 1,312 ft.), and
(2) the Upper Selva (1,312 – 3,300 ft.). These are regions of tropical forest. Farming is limited here.
(3) Kichwa (7,546 – 11,483 ft.) is a land of hills and valleys where grains, maize, and a goosefoot seed product called quinoa are grown.
(4) Suni (11,483- 13,123 ft.) is also a valleys region. It was here that man first learned to grow the potato plant.
(5) Puna (13,123 – 15,748 ft.) is mostly grasslands. Four members of the camel family— the llama, the alpaca, the guanaco, and the vicuña— graze here, of which the first two have been raised for their milk, meat, and furs for thousands of years.
(6) The Janca (15,748 – 22,205 ft.) is the highest region. The air is cold and thin, and the few plant and animals that live here are well adapted to the climate.