Did you know that mountains make up about one-fifth of the world's landscape?
Mountains are land masses over 600 m high with steep sides and prominent peaks. They can be formed by folding, faulting and volcanic activity.
Examples of young fold mountains include the Alps, the Rockies, the Andes, the Himalayas, the Blue Mountains of Jamaica and the Northern Range of Trinidad.
Fold mountains are formed when earth movements push huge slabs of the Earth's crust (called tectonic plates) together and the layers of rock buckle up or fold as it is squeezed in between the compressing plates. These movements occur over millions of years and the rocks comprising fold mountains are typically sedimentary rocks.
Where the layers of rock fold upwards towards the summit of the mountain, it it called an anticline. The downfold is called the syncline.
Over time, if mountains are no longer growing, they may begin to wear down due to the elements of weather. Low hills worn away by weathering are called peneplains.
Click on the arrow to view this You Tube presentation that explains how fold mountains are formed.
Click on the arrow to view the Prezi presentation on fold mountains, then try the activity that follows!
Here is an activity to get you acquainted with the terms covered in this note
TASK 1: Research the following:
- the world's tallest mountain above sea level
- the longest mountain chain in the world
- hill
- knoll
- mountain range
- pass
- summit/peak
- ridge