Most of Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, and parts of Argentina, Bolivia and Venezuela, are in the Andes. The Andes are the second-highest range of mountains in the world. Only the Himalayas in Asia are higher. North America has a peak. Mount McKinley in Alaska, that is 20,300 feet high, but there are seventeen peaks in the Andes that are higher than that. The highest of them, Aconcagua, is about 23,000 feet high. (See the article on ACONCAGUA. ) The highest lake in the world, Lake Titicaca, is in the Peruvian Andes. The Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro and his men reached the Andes more than four hundred years ago. They found beautiful Indian cities but they destroyed most of them. Most of the people who live in the Andes today are a mixture of Indian and Spanish. They are farmers, miners, and herders of sheep and other animals. Most of them are very poor. Their farms are high in the mountains. You would find it difficult to breathe, so high in the Andes, because the higher you go the thinner the air becomes, but the natives are used to it. Their lungs will hold much more air than ours will. The Andes run through tropical country, but for the most part the climate in the mountains is cool or cold. The high peaks are always covered with snow. It is very difficult to cross the Andes from east to west. Only two rail-road lines cross the Andes, and parts of these lines run through long tunnels. Most of the people who cross the Andes must travel along narrow, winding footpaths. The travellers use narrow footbridges to cross deep ravines. Some of the bridges are nothing but saving spans of rope. The people either carry loads on their back or use pack animals. The Indians use the llama as a beast of burden. The llama is a member of the camel family. The mule also has become an important beast of burden in the Andes. The Andes vary in width from forty miles to more than four hundred miles. They rise almost straight up, in many places, from the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The eastern slopes of the Andes are not as steep as the western. Because the eastern slopes catch more rain, many great South American rivers, including the Amazon, begin there. There are still active volcanoes in the Andes. The best known is Cotopaxi which is more than nineteen thousand feet high. The Andes Mountains are rich in metals. There are great silver mines in Peru and Bolivia. Much copper and mercury is found in the mountains. Bolivia has some of the largest tin mines in the world. There are also gold mines in the Andes. There are many wonderful things to see in the Andes Mountains. First, there are the high, snow-covered peaks. Then there are lovely lakes and waterfalls. Some of the cities high in the Andes are among the most beautiful in the world. Some ancient Indian buildings still stand, and the ruins of others are very interesting. More than a thousand years ago, long before the white man came, the Indians living in the Andes had built great temples, aqueducts to carry water, paved roads, and other things.

byAlma Abell

When the home Landscaping in Hartford CT is decent but lacking in anything that makes the space stand out, there is the option of adding a few elements to spice things up a bit. Many people are surprised at how just a few additions can make such a difference, without having to redo the landscaping completely.

Here are some ideas that are worth considering.

New Borders for the Flower Beds: If part of the Landscaping in Hartford CT includes flower beds or islands, why not jazz the spaces up with the addition of some new type of border? For example, perhaps the current borders are nothing more than simple red bricks. To add some color and texture, consider replacing them with stones or possibly borders that are shaped like smaller versions of a picket fence. There is even the option of using monkey grass for the border as a way to add another element of green to the space.

Stepping Stones: Creating some intentional paths through a backyard garden will certainly help to increase the visual appeal of the landscaping. Take the time to map out routes that are taken to get to the storeroom, the garage, or some area of the yard where people like to sit. Use for more information on landscaping.

Add a Pergola: The addition of a pergola to some area in the yard instantly creates a space that is ideal for enjoying quiet conversations or settling in to enjoy a book. While some pergola plans can be complicated, there are vinyl sets that can be assembled with ease. All the homeowner really needs is a level area for the structure, some decorative plants to plant around the sides, and possibly some stepping stones to create a path to the pergola.

There are all sorts of ways to build on what is already going on in the yard. Have a professional come by and make some suggestions. With just a change or two, the yard will take on a whole new look and feel, without the need to rip out everything and start from scratch.

For more information, visit: Contact The FEB Companies.