The Andes Mountain range is the longest and one of the highest mountain ranges in the world. Believed to have been created 50 million years ago, this mountain range is a collection of numerous mountain chains that are joined and line the western edge of South America. From Venezuela down through Chile to the southern tip of the continent, it spans over seven countries. This mountain chain is part of a subduction zone home to many of Earth’s active volcanoes. How were the Andes mountains created? The movement of the continental crust sliding under the lighter oceanic crust created the mountain chain. The movement of the Earth where the tectonic plates slowly diverge from each other created the mountain chain. The movement of tectonic plates converging that cause the dense oceanic crust to slide under the continental crust created the mountain chain. The movement of convection currents that cause tectonic plates to diverge allowing one to slide under the other created the mountain chain.