Geography
How Highland Climates Shape Andean Vertical Ecological Zones
Quick fact
At the equator, a 1,000-meter increase in elevation drops the average temperature by about 6.5°C, similar to moving roughly 1,000 kilometers toward the poles. This is why you can find glaciers on equatorial mountains while rainforests flourish at their base.
Why this is interesting
You've probably heard of tropical rainforests and icy peaks, but did you know that the Andes mountains can contain both—and everything in between—within just a few kilometers of vertical distance?