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Mountain
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Chimborazo, Ecuador. The point on Earth's surface farthest from its center.[1]
Contents [hide]
1
Definition
2
Geology
2.1
Volcanoes
2.2
Fold mountains
2.3
Block mountains
2.4
Erosion
3
Climate
4
Ecology
5
In society
6
Superlatives
7
See also
8
Notes
9
References
10
External links
Definition
Jeff Davis Peak seen from the glacier-carved summit of Wheeler Peak, Nevada
There are three main types of mountains: volcanic, fold, and block.[15] All three
types are formed from plate tectonics: when portions of the Earth's crust
move, crumple, and dive. Compressional forces, isostatic uplift and intrusion
of igneous matter forces surface rock upward, creating a landform higher than
the surrounding features. The height of the feature makes it either a hill or, if
higher and steeper, a mountain. Major mountains tend to occur in long linear
arcs, indicating tectonic plate boundaries and activity.
Volcanoes
Main article: Volcano
proximity to oceans (such as the Arctic Ocean) can drastically modify the
climate.[25] As the altitude increases, the main form of precipitation becomes
snow and the winds increase.[26]
The effect of the climate on the ecology at an elevation can be largely
captured through a combination of amount of precipitation, and the
biotemperature, as described by Leslie Holdridge in 1947.[27] Biotemperature
is the mean temperature; all temperatures below 0C (32F) are considered
to be 0C. When the temperature is below 0C, plants are dormant, so the
exact temperature is unimportant. The peaks of mountains with permanent
snow can have a biotemperature below 1.5C (34.7F).
Ecology
Main article: Montane ecology
An alpine mire in the Swiss Alps
The colder climate on mountains affects the plants and animals residing on
mountains. A particular set of plants and animals tend to be adapted to a
relatively narrow range of climate. Thus, ecosystems tend to lie along
elevation bands of roughly constant climate. This is called altitudinal zonation.
[28] In regions with dry climates, the tendency of mountains to have higher
The summit of Ben Nevis, the British Isles' highest, has a memorial
Mountains are generally less preferable for human habitation than lowlands,
because of harsh weather and little level ground suitable for agriculture. While
7% of the land area of Earth is above 2,500 metres (8,200ft),[13] only 140
million people live above that altitude[33] and only 20-30 million people above
3,000 metres (9,800ft) elevation.[34] The decreasing atmospheric pressure
with increasing elevation means that less oxygen is available for breathing,
and there is less protection against solar radiation (UV).[29] Due to decreasing
oxygen, the highest known permanent habitation in the world is at 5,100
metres (16,700ft), while the highest known permanently tolerable altitude is
at 5,950 metres (19,520ft).[35] Above 8,000 metres (26,000ft) elevation, there
is not enough oxygen to support human life. This is known as the "death
zone".[36] The summits of Mount Everest and K2 are in the death zone.
About half of mountain dwellers live in the Andes, Central Asia, and Africa.[14]
Traditional mountain societies rely on agriculture, with higher risk of crop
failure than at lower elevations. Minerals often occur in mountains, with
mining being an important component of the economics of some montane
societies. More recently, tourism supports mountain communities, with some
intensive development around attractions such as national parks or ski
resorts.[37] About 80% of mountain people live below the poverty line.[14]
Most of the world's rivers are fed from mountain sources, with snow acting as
a storage mechanism for downstream users.[38] More than half of humanity
depends on mountains for water.[39][40]
Mountaineering, mountain climbing, or alpinism is the sport, hobby or
profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering
began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed big mountains it
has branched into specializations that address different aspects of the
mountain and consists of three areas: rock-craft, snow-craft and skiing,
depending on whether the route chosen is over rock, snow or ice. All require
experience, athletic ability, and technical knowledge to maintain safety.[41]
Superlatives
Main article: List of highest mountains
3 Jump up
^ Whittow, John (1984). Dictionary of Physical Geography. London: Penguin.
p.352. ISBN0-14-051094-X.
4 Jump up
^ Nuttall, John & Anne (2008). England. The Mountains of England & Wales.
2 (3rd ed.). Milnthorpe, Cumbria: Cicerone. ISBN1-85284-037-4.
5 Jump up
^ "Survey turns hill into a mountain". BBC. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
6 Jump up
^ "A Mountain is a Mountain isn't it?". www.go4awalk.com. Retrieved 3
February 2013.
7 Jump up
^ "mountain". dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
8 Jump up
^ Wilson, Peter (2001). "Listing the Irish hills and mountains". Irish
Geography. Coleraine: University of Ulster. 34 (1): 89. doi:
10.1080/00750770109555778. Archived from the original (PDF) on
2013-06-27.
9 Jump up
^ "What is a "Mountain"? Mynydd Graig Goch and all that...". Metric Views.
Retrieved 3 February 2013.
10 Jump up
^ Helman, Adam (2005). The Finest Peaks - Prominence and Other Mountain
Measures. Trafford Publishing. ISBN978-1412059954.
11 Jump up
^ "What is the difference between lake and pond; mountain and hill; or river
and creek?". USGS. Archived from the original on 2013-02-12. Retrieved 11
February 2013.
12 Jump up
^ Blyth 2002, p.74.
13 ^ Jump up to:
a b Blyth 2002, p.14.
14 ^ Jump up to:
a b c Panos (2002). "High Stakes" (PDF). Retrieved 17 February 2009.
15 Jump up
^ "Chapter 6: Mountain building". Science matters: earth and beyond; module
4. Pearson South Africa. 2002. p.75. ISBN0-7986-6059-7.
16 Jump up
^ Butz, Stephen D (2004). "Chapter 8: Plate tectonics". Science of Earth
Systems. Thompson/Delmar Learning. p.136. ISBN0-7668-3391-7.
17 Jump up
^ Gerrard 1990, p.194.
18 Jump up
^ Searle, Michael P (2007). "Diagnostic features and processes in the
construction and evolution of Oman-, Zagros-, Himalayan-, Karakoram-, and
Tibetan type orogenic belts". In Robert D. Hatcher Jr.; MP Carlson; JH
McBride; JR Martinez Cataln. 4-D framework of continental crust.
Geological Society of America. p.41 ff. ISBN0-8137-1200-9.
19 Jump up
^ Press, Frank; Siever, Raymond (1985). Earth (4th ed.). W. H. Freeman.
p.413. ISBN978-0-7167-1743-0.
20 Jump up
^ Ryan, Scott (2006). "Figure 13-1". CliffsQuickReview Earth Science. Wiley.
ISBN0-471-78937-2.
21 Jump up
^ Fraknoi, Morrison & Wolff 2004, p.160.
22 ^ Jump up to:
a b Goody, Richard M.; Walker, James C.G. (1972). "Atmospheric
30 ^ Jump up to:
a b "Biotic Communities of the Colorado Plateau: C. Hart Merriam and the Life
List of landforms
Mountainous
Table Butte Flat Hill Mountain Mountain range Plateau Ridge Valley
Continental plain
Ice sheet Plain Steppe Tundra
Fluvial
Alluvial fan Beach Canyon Cave Channel Cliff Floodplain Lake Levee Meander
Oasis Pond Rapids River River delta River mouth River valley Strait Swamp
Waterfall
Glacial
Arte Cirque Esker Fjord Glacier Tunnel valley
Oceanic and
coastal landforms
Atoll Bay Cape Channel Coast Continental shelf Coral reef Estuary High island
Island Isthmus Lagoon Mid-ocean ridge Oceanic trench Peninsula Seamount
Volcanic
Caldera Crater lake Geyser High island Mid-ocean ridge Lava dome
Lava field Lava plateau Submarine volcano Guyot Volcanic crater Volcanic plug
Volcano Wall rock
Aeolian
Desert Dry lake Dune Sandhill Tundra
Artificial
Artificial island Artificial reef Bridge Building Canal (man-made) Dam Ditch Land
reclamation Levee Polder Quarry Reservoir Road Tunnel
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