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by oetnxkdrlgcexu 1917 days ago
Looking at google maps, it sort of looks like it goes from the jungle to the Andes to the Atacama dessert.

I'm genuinely surprised at how impassible this all seems. especially the Andes.

1 comments

The Andes rival the Himalayas in all respects.

Shipping freight by road to the Pacific means going through Argentina and Chile. I don't think Peru and Bolivia have the maintained roads to do it.

As far as I know, there are only four paved mountain passes between Argentina and Chile. Paso Paso de Jama is probably the most practical, and I think the one carrying the most freight currently.

The other three-- Cardenal Antonio Samoré, Paso Libertadores, and Pino Hachado-- are much farther south.

None of these routes would be cost effective for the international coffee trade at any scale. Take a look at some photos of Paso Libertadores to see what I mean.