Andean states

Orange= Geographically and politically
Blue= Geographically

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 following countries:

• Colombia
• Venezuela
• Ecuador
• Peru
• Bolivia
• Argentina (not considered to be geopolitically an Andean State)
• Chile (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. Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia 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

• Brazilian Highlands
• Himalayan states
• Andean Community
• Southern Cone