andes

The Andes stretch 7,000 kilometres down the spine of South America — the longest mountain range on land, and a wall so high it creates deserts on one side and rainforests on the other. But it's not even close to the longest range on the planet. That title belongs to a mountain chain ten times longer, winding 65,000 kilometres around the globe entirely beneath the oceans, where most of Earth's volcanic activity quietly happens.

Bhutan is the world's most mountainous country — 98% of its territory is above 600m. Nepal has the world's highest peaks including Everest. The Himalayas, Andes, and Alps define some of Earth's most dramatic geography. Here's the full ranking of the world's most mountainous nations and what extreme altitude means for human life.