It is at between 4,500 -- 4,800 m ( 14,800 -- 15,800 ft ) in the tropical Ecuadorian , Colombian , Venezuelan , and northern Peruvian Andes , going up to 4,800 -- 5,200 m ( 15,800 -- 17,060 ft ) in the drier mountains of southern Peru south to northern Chile south to about 30 Â S , then going down to 4500 m on Aconcagua at 32 Â S , 2000 m at 40 Â S , 500 m at 50 Â S , and only 300 m in Tierra del Fuego at 55 Â S ; from 50 Â S , many of the bigger glaciers go down to sea level . It is at between 4,500 and 4,800 m ( 14,800 -- 15,800 ft ) in the tropical Ecuadorian , Colombian , Venezuelan , and northern Peruvian Andes , rising to 4,800 -- 5,200 m ( 15,800 -- 17,060 ft ) in the drier mountains of southern Peru south to northern Chile south to about 30 Â S , then descending to 4500 m on Aconcagua at 32 Â S , 2000 m at 40 Â S , 500 m at 50 Â S , and only 300 m in Tierra del Fuego at 55 Â S ; from 50 Â S , several of the larger glaciers descend to sea level .