Land relief and the highest mountains

The highest mountains form where tectonic plates meet. The Himalaya began rising about 50 million years ago when the Indian Plate started pushing the Asian Plate, and it still grows by a few millimeters each year. The 14 peaks over 8,000 meters are located there and in the Karakoram; the tallest is Mount Everest, on the border between Nepal and China, measured at 8,849 meters in 2020.

Outside Asia, the highest mountain is Aconcágua, in Argentina, at about 6,961 meters. It is in the Andes, the largest continuous mountain chain on the planet.

The highest peaks of each continent form the so‑called Seven Summits, a well‑known challenge among mountaineers: Everest, Aconcágua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson Massif and, in Oceania, Puncak Jaya or Mount Kosciuszko, depending on the list used.

Brazil does not have mountain chains like the Andes. The relief is formed mainly by plateaus and plains, with old, time‑worn ranges.

The country’s highest point is Pico da Neblina, in Amazonas, near the border with Venezuela, at 2,995 meters. The second is Pico 31 de Março, next to it, and the third is Pico da Bandeira, between Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, at 2,892 meters.

The Serra do Mar and Serra da Mantiqueira in the Southeast concentrate many of the country’s most popular mountain destinations, such as Campos do Jordão, Monte Verde and Itatiaia.

Many destinations in South America are well above sea level: Bogotá at about 2,600 meters; Quito at about 2,850 meters; Cusco at about 3,400 meters; and La Paz at over 3,600 meters.

Above roughly 2,500 meters, the air contains less oxygen, and it’s common to feel headaches, tiredness, and shortness of breath in the first days. Ascending gradually, taking it easy at the start, and drinking plenty of water usually help; people with health problems should consult their doctor before traveling.

In Brazil, the terrain is lower: Pico da Neblina, the highest point, is 2,995 meters, and the most visited ranges, like the Mantiqueira and the Serra dos Órgãos, lie between 1,000 and 2,800 meters.