Cor·dil·le·ra |kôrdl(y)era|, noun, a group of parallel mountain ranges together with the intervening plateaus, esp. in the Andes. A region where there are many such features, characterized by remoteness and inaccessibility. ORIGIN early 18 th cent. : from Spanish, from cordilla, diminutive of cuerda ‘cord.’

The Patagonian cordillera is the heart of the Andes, a place of enormous distances, ancient mountains, surprisingly abundant water, fierce winds, stark shadows, and strong, large hearted people.