Altiplano

[ al-tuh-plah-noh; Spanish ahl-tee-plah-naw ]

noun

, plural al·ti·pla·nos

1. a plateau region in South America, situated in the Andes of Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.
2. altiplano, Geology. an elevated terrace or plateau sculptured by periglacial geomorphic processes.

Altiplano

/ altiˈplano /

noun

1. a plateau of the Andes, covering two thirds of Bolivia and extending into S Peru: contains Lake Titicaca. Height: 3000 m (10 000 ft) to 3900 m (13 000 ft)

altiplano

/ äl′tĭ-plä′nō /

1. A high mountain plateau. The most well-known altiplano extends from Lake Titicaca, in southern Peru, to Lake Poopo in Bolivia, covering a distance of 966 km (600 mi). Its average altitude is 3,658 m (12,000 ft).

Word History and Origins

Origin of Altiplano¹

First recorded in 1910–15; from Spanish: literally, “high plateau,” equivalent to alti- alti- + plano plain ¹

Example Sentences

That was followed almost immediately by Piaget, in its 150th anniversary year, issuing what it identified as the world’s thinnest tourbillon: the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon, which at two millimeters all but sucks the third dimension out of the whirring anti-gravitational tourbillon device so loved by elite watchmakers.

From New York Times

The researchers started their demonstration with water samples from five high-altitude Andean lakes more than 2.3 miles above sea level in the Chilean Altiplano.

From Science Daily

A 2019 study found that superbolts are concentrated in three specific regions around the world—the North Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Altiplano in South America—and tend to peak from November to February.

From Scientific American

Efraim’s research stemmed from a 2019 study, which showed that superbolts tend to cluster in certain parts of the world: the Mediterranean Sea, the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, and one of the tallest plateaus on Earth, the Altiplano in Bolivia and Peru.

From National Geographic

Guzmán was captured again in Mexico, but broke out of the maximum-security Altiplano prison near Mexico City through an underground tunnel in July 2015.

From Los Angeles Times