)
Blue = Geographically an Andean state
The Andean states (Spanish: Estados Andinos) are a group of nations in South America connected by the Andes mountain range. "Andean States" is sometimes used to refer to all seven countries that the Andes runs through, regions with a shared culture primarily spread during the times of the Inca Empire (such as the Quechua language and Andean cuisine), or it can be used in a geopolitical sense to designate countries in the region that are members of the Andean Community trade group and have a local (as opposed to a Southern Cone) cultural orientation.
The Andes extend through the western part of South America in the following countries:
Argentina (not considered to be geopolitically an Andean state)
Bolivia
Chile (not considered to be geopolitically an Andean state)
Colombia
Ecuador
Peru
Venezuela (not considered to be geopolitically an Andean State)
When grouped as "the Andean states", the emphasis is on the mountainous regions of these countries. For example, the Argentine pampas are not part of the Andean region, but western Argentina along with Chile is part of the Andean region. Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru are part of the Andean Community (a trade grouping), and each contains Amazon rainforest and Amazonian indigenous people as well as Andean mountains.
See also
- Andean Community
- Brazilian Highlands
- Caribbean South America
- Himalayan states
- Southern Cone
- The Guianas