Mountains are giant masses of rocks at least 600m high. They cover about a quarter of the Earth’s surface and are usually found in groups called ranges.

Mountain building

The world’s tallest mountain ranges were formed when two of the Earth’s plates collided with each other, slowly pushing up the Earth’s surface. The process of mountain formation takes millions of years and is still going on today. The highest mountain range of all, the Himalayas, first began to form about 70 million years ago and still is rising about 1cm every year.

mountain shapes

Mountains are in different shapes. It all depends on how they formed. Fold mountains are created when rock folds upwards. Fault-block mountains form when giant blocks of rocks are pushed up. Dome mountains are pushed upwards by magma bulging from below. Plateau mountains are made when a wide section of flat land is pushed up.

Mountain Profile

At the bottom of a mountain there might be trees, but at some point it becomes impossible for them to grow. The place where they stop is called the tree line. Above it only tough plants such as mosses can grow. Higher still, no plants survive and there is often snow all year round. The line between where snow melts in summer and stays put all year round is called the snow line