A cooler climate, the tierra fria, extends from 6,000 feet (1,850 meters) to about 15,000 feet (4,570 meters). Average temperatures there range from 55 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit (12 to 17 degrees Celsius). This zone extends throughout the Andes and can maintain only that plant life that can withstand the limited soils and the cold conditions. In this region of subsistence type farming, crops and animals are grown and raised mostly for family use.
In the lower reaches of this zone, barley grows well because it requires a short growing season. In the cooler portions of this zone, the potato began. A tuber, the potato can flourish in cold conditions with moderate moisture. The loose soils of this zone are perfect for its production, but it requires a considerable amount of cultivation. Although the potato is used throughout South America, potato production for the continent constitutes only about 5 percent of the world total production. Alpacas, a type of goat, and llamas are also raised there.
See also: River Lowlands, Coastal Lowlands, Tierra Templada
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