Mountains are some of the most impressive
natural wonders in the world. They can be
found on every continent and have played an
important role in shaping our planet's
geography and climate.
TYPES OF MOUNTAINS
Fold Mountains - these are mountains that
form when two tectonic plates collide, and
one plate is pushed up and over the other.
Fault Block Mountains - when tectonic
plates move, they can cause the crust of the
earth to crack and break along a fault line,
creating a series of blocks.
Dome Mountains - are mountains that are
formed by the upward movement of molten
rock, or magma, beneath the Earth's surface
Volcanic Mountains - are formed when
magma, which is molten rock beneath the
Earth's surface, rises up through a vent or
fissure and erupts onto the surface.
Plateau Mountains - are mountains that are
formed on top of a high, flat area of land
known as a plateau. They are often
characterized by their steep sides and
relatively flat tops
PLATE TECTONIC EVENTS
LEADING TO MOUNTAIN BUILDING
Mountain ranges formed by convergent
plate boundaries
- Convergent plate boundaries are locations
where two tectonic plates move towards
each other, resulting in the collision of the
plates. When two continental plates collide,
neither plate is dense enough to subduct, so
they are forced upwards, creating a large
mountain range.
Mountain ranges formed by divergent
plate boundaries
-Divergent plate boundaries are locations
where two tectonic plates move away from
each other, resulting in the separation of the
plates. As the plates continue to move apart,
the newly formed crust cools and solidifies,
forming a symmetrical pattern of ridges on
the ocean floor.
Mountain ranges formed by
TRANSFORM plate boundaries
-Transform plate boundaries are locations
where two tectonic plates slide past each
other horizontally, with no creation or
destruction of crust. Transform plate
boundaries are commonly found along midocean ridges, where they connect the
segments of a divergent plate boundary, and
they can also be found on land, such as the
San Andreas Fault in California.