Patagonian Andes

the southern section of the Andes in South America, in Chile and Argentina, south of 39° S lat. With average elevations of 2,000–3,000 m, the mountains rise to a maximum elevation of 4,035 m. There is a great deal of seismic and volcanic activity in the northern part, where volcanoes include the Llaima, Osorno, and Corcovado. The climate is temperate, cool, and very moist, with up to 5,000 mm precipitation annually. There is glaciation, including the two “Patagonian shields,” whose total area is about 20,000 sq km. There are also many large terminal glacial lakes, including Llanquihue and Nahuel Huapí. Evergreen coniferous forests grow in the northern part. The forests on the western slopes contain primarily deciduous beeches; those on the drier eastern slopes are mixed.