Aconcagua (6962 m) Andes, Argentina

Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas at 6962 m. It is located in the Andes mountain range, in the province of Mendoza, Argentina, and lies 112 km west by north of its capital, the city of Mendoza. The summit is also located about 5 km from San Juan Province and 15 km from the international border with Chile. Aconcagua is the highest peak in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. It is one of the Seven Summits in the world.

Aconcagua is bounded by the Valle de las Vacas to the north and east and the Valle de los Horcones Inferior to the West and South. The mountain and its surroundings are part of the Aconcagua Provincial Park. The mountain has a number of glaciers. The largest glacier is the Ventisquero Horcones Inferior at about 10 km long, which descends from the south face to about 3600 m altitude near the Confluencia camp. Two other large glacier systems are the Ventisquero de las Vacas Sur and Glaciar Este/Ventisquero Relinchos system at about 5 km long. However, the most well-known is the north-eastern or Polish Glacier, a common route of ascent. The origin of the name is contested; it is either from the Arauca Aconca-Hue, which refers to the Aconcagua River and means /comes from the other side/, the Quechua Ackon Cahuak, meaning /Sentinel of Stone/ or Quechua Anco Cahuac /White Sentinel/ or the Aymara Janqu Qawa /White Ravine/, /White Brook/. In mountaineering terms, Aconcagua is technically an easy mountain if approached from the north, via the normal route. Aconcagua is arguably the highest non-technical mountain in the world, since the northern route does not absolutely require ropes, axes, and pins. Although the effects of altitude are severe, the use of supplemental oxygen is not required. Altitude sickness will affect most climbers to some extent, depending on the degree of acclimatization. The routes to the peak from the south and south-west ridges are more demanding and the south face climb is considered very difficult.

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