Physical Religious Social & Economic Artistic
	PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ndean culture developed in response to some of the harshest geographic conditions in the world. The region of the Andes encompasses the earthÆs most rugged mountain chain, a vast coastal desert, sierra basins, high puna, and tropical rainforest. The coast and mountains run parallel from north and south and are bisected by rivers that run from east to west. Cultures developed in isolated valleys near rivers. For millenia, the inhabitants of the Andes, like South Americans today, have had to endure active volcanoes and earthquakes, as well as severe flooding and droughts caused by the El Ni±o phenomenon. Nonetheless, Andean cultures mastered the ability to meet human needs by working with the natural rhythms of the landscape.
	The Andean ecology is vertical. In order to survive, the inhabitants of Andean states developed technologies to exploit resources available at different altitudes. Along the coasts, rich colonies of anchovies were harvested. Massive irrigation systems channelled mountain water to cultivate maize and cotton in the desert. In the highlands, herding and farming on terraced mountain slopes complemented each other. Llama and alpaca were raised for wool and meat, and for use as pack animals. Their manure fertilized high-altitude crops like quinoa and potatoes.