Mountain

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Revision as of 20:56, 19 June 2010

Mountain is a large landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area usually in the form of a peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a hill.

Mountain is a large landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area usually in the form of a peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a hill. The adjective montane is used to describe mountainous areas and things associated with them. The study of mountains is called Orography.

Mountain environments cover some 27 per cent of the world’s land surface, and directly support the 22 per cent of the world’s people who live within mountain regions. Lowland people also depend on mountain environments for a wide range of goods and services, including water, energy, timber, biodiversity maintenance, and opportunities for recreation and spiritual renewal.

Class of Mountains

• 1 elevation > 4 500 m
• 2 elevation 3 500 – 4 500 m
• 3 elevation 2 500 – 3 500 m
• 4 elevation 1 500 – 2 500 m and slope ‡ 2°
• 5 elevation 1 000 – 1 500 m and slope ‡ 5° or local elevation range (7 km radius) > 300 m
• 6 elevation 300 – 1 000 m and local elevation range (7 km radius) > 300 m
• 7 isolated inner basins and plateaus less than 25 km2 in extent that are surrounded by mountains but do not themselves meet criteria 1-6

“Seven Summits”, the highest peaks on every continent

Continent Peak Elevation (meters)

• Asia Mt. Everest/Sagarmatha/Chomolangma 8,850
• South America Mt. Aconcagua 6,960
• North America Mt. McKinley/Denali 6,194
• Africa Mt. Kilimanjaro 5,963
• Europe Mt. Elbrus 5,642
• Australia/Oceania Mt. Puncak Jaya 5,030
• Antarctica Mt. Vinson Massif 4,897

Mountain Glossary

Cirque A steep-walled mountain basin which usually forms the blunt end of a valley. (French for "circus.")

Also see

• Physical Features of Mountains
• Defining Mountain Regions
• Snow and Weather Glossary
• Frozen Ground
• Cryosphere
• What Affects Frozen Ground
• What is the Cryosphere
• Snow
• Clouds
• Evaporation
• Freezing Point / Freeze
• Moisture
• Rime
• Sublimation
• Water

Reference

1. Wikipedia see Mountain [1]
2. Mountain Watch Defining Mountain Regions [2]

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