What is the highest mountain in South America?
Quick answer
Aconcagua, in the Andes of Argentina, is the highest mountain in South America at about 6,961 meters (22,838 feet). It’s also the highest mountain outside Asia and the highest in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres, making it one of the famous Seven Summits.
Key facts
- Height
- ~6,961 m (22,838 ft)
- Country
- Argentina (Mendoza Province), near the Chile border
- Range
- The Andes
- First recorded ascent
- 1897, by Matthias Zurbriggen
The highest peaks in South America
| Mountain | Height | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Aconcagua | 6,961 m | Argentina |
| Ojos del Salado | 6,893 m | Argentina/Chile (highest active volcano on Earth) |
| Monte Pissis | 6,793 m | Argentina |
| Huascarán | 6,768 m | Peru |
| Chimborazo | 6,263 m | Ecuador |
A peak “farthest from Earth’s center”
Ecuador’s Chimborazo is much lower than Everest above sea level, but because Earth bulges at the equator, its summit is the farthest point from Earth’s center, about 2 km farther than Everest’s.
Climbing Aconcagua
- It’s often called the highest mountain you can climb without technical climbing skills on its normal route, but it’s still serious.
- The climb usually takes 2 to 3 weeks, mostly to adapt to the altitude.
- Thin air, extreme cold and strong winds (the “Viento Blanco”) cause most problems; altitude sickness is the main danger.
- The season runs from about November to March, during the Southern Hemisphere summer.
The Seven Summits
| Continent | Highest peak |
|---|---|
| Asia | Everest, 8,849 m |
| South America | Aconcagua, 6,961 m |
| North America | Denali, 6,190 m |
| Africa | Kilimanjaro, 5,895 m |
| Europe | Elbrus, 5,642 m |
| Antarctica | Vinson, 4,892 m |
| Oceania | Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid), 4,884 m |
The Andes also hold the ancient Inca road network and cities like Machu Picchu. For the ocean’s opposite extreme, see the Mariana Trench.
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