Britannica Student Encyclopedia - 2010

studied at the University of Copenhagen.

Andersen’s first collection of tales for

young people was published in 1835. It

included the story “The Princess and the

Pea.” Andersen wrote his tales as if they

were being told out loud, often using

expressions that people heard every day.

He also drew on his own experiences to

create characters who were poor or even

outcasts.During his long writing career,

he wrote more than 200 stories. Andersen

also spent much time traveling

throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa, and

he wrote several travel books.He wrote

plays, poems, and novels, too. Andersen

died on August 4, 1875, in Copenhagen.

Anderson,

Marian

The singer Marian Anderson had a pure,

rich voice and could sing a great range

of parts. An African American, she is

also remembered for breaking down

barriers between blacks and whites in

the United States.

Anderson was born on February 27,

1897, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At

age 6 she began singing in her church

choir. At age 19 she studied singing

with a famous teacher who was so

A girl feeds the ducklings in an

illustration for the story “The

Ugly Duckling.”

116 Andersen, Hans Christian BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

 

impressed by her talent that he gave her

free lessons.

In 1925 Anderson gave a recital with the

New York Philharmonic Orchestra. But

because of her skin color, many opportunities

were closed to her in the United

States, where at the time blacks and

whites were often kept apart. Audiences

in other countries embraced Anderson,

however. In the 1930s she made successful

singing tours of Europe.

In 1939 Anderson was prevented from

arranging a concert inWashington, D.C.,

because blacks were not allowed in the

concert hall.Many Americans, including

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, were

outraged. They arranged for her to sing

outside the LincolnMemorial instead,

and 75,000 people came to hear her.

In 1955 Anderson became the first African

American to perform with the

renowned Metropolitan Opera in New

York City. Two years later she published

My Lord, What a Morning, the story of

her life. Anderson died on April 8,

1993, in Portland, Oregon.

#More to explore

African Americans • Opera

Andes

The Andes Mountains of South America

are the longest mountain chain in the

world. The chain also contains the highest

mountains in the Americas. The

Andes were settled long ago by American

Indian peoples. They continue to

attract interest today because of their

mineral wealth.

Features

The AndesMountains stretch from north

to south along the entire western side of

South America. They separate a narrow

strip of land along the PacificOcean from

the rest of the continent. The Andes are

Marian Anderson sings at the Lincoln

Memorial in Washington, D.C.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Andes 117

 

about 5,500 miles (8,900 kilometers)

long and in most places are no wider than

200 miles (320 kilometers).

Many Andean peaks are higher than any

mountains in North America. At 22,831

feet (6,959 meters), Argentina’s Mount

Aconcagua is the highest mountain anywhere

in the world outside Asia.

Plants and Animals

Plant and animal life in the Andes varies

based on height and climate. The highest

peaks and some very dry places have

very few plants. But rainy parts of the

eastern Andes have lush tropical forests.

Animals of the Andes include pumas,

chinchillas, and several relatives of the

camel, including llamas, guanacos, and

alpacas. The Andean condor is a vulture

that is one of the world’s largest flying

birds.

People

Humans first settled in the Andes more

than 10,000 years ago. Indian peoples

such as the Inca established cities in high

valleys and built roads through mountain

passes. Most people in the Andean

region even today have at least some

Indian ancestors.

Most of the people of the mountains are

involved in farming. Most crops are

grown for use within the region, but

some are exported. Increasing numbers

of people have also become involved in

mining. The Andean region is one of the

world’s richest sources of minerals. Copper,

iron ore, tin, lead, zinc, silver, gold,

platinum, and emeralds are all produced

in the Andes, especially in the south.

#More to explore

Inca • Mountain • South America

Mount Fitzroy, or El Chalten, is part of the southern Andes Mountains. It rises above a

plain in the Patagonia region of Argentina.

118 Andes BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

 

Andorra

The European country of Andorra is

one of the smallest in the world. The

capital is Andorra la Vella.

Geography

Andorra lies in the southern Pyrenees

Mountains between Spain and France.

The Valira River runs through its valleys.

Andorra has a number of natural

sources of hot water called thermal

springs.

The climate of Andorra is generally dry.

It has cold, snowy winters and warm

summers.

Plants and Animals

Pines and firs grow in Andorra’s mountains,

where chamois (goatlike animals)

and birds of prey also live. Andorra has

reintroduced several threatened animals,

including species of trout and deer, to

their former habitats.Wild boars and

weasels are other native animals.

People

Most Andorrans are of Spanish origin

and Roman Catholic. Catalan, a language