The list below
identifies and ranks the 50 South-America mountains
with the largest prominence or primary factor.
A vertical ascent on foot of at least
600 meter should be honored in order to qualify as a legitimate climb, many
peaks will require more.
The primary factor of a mountain is the minimal vertical drop from its summit before one can ascend a higher peak. In terms of map contours, this vertical drop is defined by the first contour that encircles a higher peak and the preceeding (higher) contour line which has the peak in question as the highest point inside its closed curve. Between these two contour lines lies the (usually unique) defining saddle of the mountain.
This list is based on data compiled by Aaron Maizlish and
Jonathan de Ferranti, more information can be found here.
Confirmed or suspected corrections are most welcome by email to: petter@ii.uib.no
Two stars behind the rank means that I have climbed it (5/50, 6/69).
| Rank | Height | Name | Primary factor | Country | Saddle | Comments |
| 1** | 6962 | Cerro Aconcagua | 6962 | Argentina | Ocean | Western Hemisphere HP |
| 2** | 5775 | Cristobal Colon | 5584 | Colombia | Local | Only 30 miles from sea |
| 3** | 6257 | Chimborazo | 4122 | Ecuador | Near Olmos, Peru | Furthest point from earth's center |
| 4** | 4988 | Pico Bolivar | 3964 | Venezuela | local | Cable car almost to the top |
| 5** | 6905 | Ojos del Salado | 3700 | Argentina | Paso de las Cuevas | Pissis is no longer a candidate |
| 6 | 4058 | Monte San Valentin | 3696 | Chile | Near Lake Tranquilo | Patagonia HP |
| 7** | 5410 | Ritacuba Blanca | 3646 | Columbia | Paso de Las Cruces | Northern Andes HP |
| 8 | 6700 | Mercedario | 3333 | Argentina | Paso de las Lloretas | TBW |
| 9 | 3706 | San Lorenzo | 3319 | Chile/Argentna | 46:35:51, 70:55:16 | TBW |
| 10 | 3580 | Volcan Lautaro | 3302 | Chile | TBD | TBW |
| 11 | 5552 | Cerro del Bolson | 3252 | Argentina/check | TBD | TBW |
| **** | **** | South-America 3000 meter prominence. | **** | ** | ** | ** |
| 12 | 4150 | El Mela | 2907 | Argentina/check | TBD | TBW |
| 13 | 2994 | Pico da Neblina | 2886 | Brazil | tbd | TBW |
| 14 | 6746 | Nevado Huascaran Sur | 2776 | Peru | tbd | TBW |
| 15 | 6097 | Nevado de Famatima | 2767 | Argentina | tbd | TBW |
| 16 | 6570 | Cerro Tupungato | 2765 | Argentina/Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 17 | 4575 | Cerro el Manchao | 2714 | Argentina | tbd | TBW |
| 18 | 5390 | Nevado del Huila | 2650 | Colombia | tbd | TBW |
| 19 | 3470 | Cerro Tronador | 2642 | Argentina/Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 20 | 2890 | Pico da Bandeira | 2640 | Brazil | tbd | TBW |
| 21 | 3740 | Volcán Lanin | 2624 | Argentina/Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 22 | 2580 | Monte Darwin | 2580 | Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 23 | 4100 | Cerro Tamana | 2573 | Colombia | tbd | TBW |
| 24 | 6264 | Nevado Salcantay | 2540 | Peru | tbd | TBW |
| 25 | 3160 | Mogote Corralitos | 2466 | Argentina | tbd | TBW |
| 26 | 2596 | Cerro Tristeza | 2456 | Venezuela | tbd | TBW |
| 27 | 2765 | Pico Naiguata | 2455 | Venezuela | tbd | TBW |
| 28 | 6438 | Nevado Illimani | 2451 | Bolivia | tbd | TBW |
| 29 | 6542 | Nevado Sajama | 2428 | Bolivia | tbd | TBW |
| 30** | 5896 | Cotopaxi | 2403 | Ecuador | tbd | TBW |
| 31 | 6739 | Volcán Llullaillaco | 2344 | Argentina/Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 32 | 4050 | Farallones de Cali | 2309 | Colombia | tbd | TBW |
| 33 | 2832 | Cerro Marahuaca | 2289 | Venezuela | tbd | TBW |
| 34 | 3810 | Cerro Nevado | 2281 | Argentina | tbd | TBW |
| 35 | 4050 | Farallones de Citara | 2280 | Colombia | tbd | TBW |
| 36 | 2440 | Monte Melimoyu | 2272 | Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 37 | 2723 | Monte Roraima | 2251 | Venezuela | tbd | TBW |
| 38 | 3840 | Cerro Calima | 2242 | Colombia | tbd | TBW |
| 39 | 2390 | Point 2390 | 2239 | Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 40 | 3708 | Volcán Nevado | 2228 | Argentina | tbd | TBW |
| 41 | 2700 | Monte Zeballos | 2228 | Argentina | tbd | TBW |
| 42 | 6405 | Nevado Coropuna | 2208 | Peru | tbd | TBW |
| 43 | 2770 | Cerro Champaqui | 2208 | Argentina | tbd | TBW |
| 44 | 5887 | Cordillera de Ansilta | 2205 | Argentina | tbd | TBW |
| 45 | 3660 | Cerro Pintado | 2181 | Colombia/Venezuela | tbd | TBW |
| 46 | 5930 | Nevado de Chani | 2166 | Argentina | tbd | TBW |
| 47 | 6176 | Cerro Aucanquilcha | 2165 | Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 48 | 6380 | Cerro el Libertador | 2146 | Argentina | tbd | TBW |
| 49 | 6795 | Monte Pissis | 2145 | Argentina | tbd | TBW |
| 50 | 6280 | Cerro de la Majadita | 2113 | Argentina | tbd | TBW |
| **** | **** | South-America 50 Finest. | **** | ** | ** | ** |
| 51 | 6108 | Cerro Marmolejo | 2105 | Argentina/Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 52 | 2675 | Cordillera Castillo | 2088 | Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 53 | 6372 | Nevado Auzangate | 2085 | Peru | tbd | TBW |
| 54** | 5790 | Nevado Cayembe | 2075 | Ecuador | tbd | TBW |
| 55 | 5319 | Cerro Altar | 2072 | Ecuador | tbd | TBW |
| 56 | 4380 | Cerro Pircas | 2070 | Argentina | tbd | TBW |
| 57 | 4150 | HP Cordillera Vilcabamba (Norte) | 2070 | Peru | tbd | TBW |
| 58 | 2798 | Pedra da Mina | 2068 | Brazil | tbd | TBW |
| 59 | 2300 | Volcán Maca | 2066 | Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 60 | 5505 | Nevado Sara Sara | 2060 | Peru | tbd | TBW |
| 61 | 2187 | Monte Sarmiento | 2040 | Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 62 | 5300 | Nevado del Ruiz | 2035 | Colombia | tbd | TBW |
| 63 | 6617 | Cerro Yerupaja | 2028 | Peru | tbd | TBW |
| 64 | 2392 | Serrania Guanay | 2026 | Venezuela | tbd | TBW |
| 65 | 6145 | Volcán San Pedro | 2024 | Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 66 | 6051 | Volcán Socompa | 2015 | Argentina/Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 67 | 2700 | Cerro Paine Grande | 2013 | Chile | tbd | TBW |
| 68 | 2950 | HP Cordillera del Condor | 2011 | Ecuador | tbd | TBW |
| 69 | 2950 | Cerro Norte | 2003 | Chile | tbd | TBW |
| **** | **** | South-America above 2000 meter prominence. | **** | ** | ** | ** |
This list will be completed soon, please visit again later !
Copyright 2000-2008, Petter Bjørstad.
I appreciate that use of these data is acknowledged including a link to
my main mountain page.