Mount Aconcagua
Aconcagua, at 6,961 metres, is the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere. It is located in Argentina within the Andes mountain range, close to the border with Chile. It is one of the Seven Summits - the highest mountains of each of the seven continents - and the second highest peak in the world outside of the Himalayas.
The mountain is noted for its glaciers, the largest one being the Ventisquero Horcones Inferior, which is 6 miles long and descends from the south face to about 3,600m. Others include Ventisquero de las Vacas Sur, Glaciar Este and the north-eastern or Polish Glacier, which is a popular ascent route.
Most climbers fly into Santiago in Chile or Mendoza in Argentina and take a bus to Puente del Inca for the normal route, or to Penitentes for the Polish Glacier, Polish Traverse and Vacas routes. The Polish Glacier is one of the most difficult routes on Aconcagua requiring technical ice climbing skills and roped climbing.