The Andes Mountains, located on the west coast of South America, are the southern section of the Cordillera mountain range that runs north-south across the continent. Stretching approximately 8,900 kilometers, they are the longest mountain range in the world and are often referred to as the "backbone of South America." The average elevation is about 3,660 meters, with most areas exceeding 3,000 meters. They boast numerous snow-capped peaks exceeding 6,000 meters, the highest being Aconcagua in Argentina at 6,962 meters, the highest point in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres, and also an extinct volcano.