A mountain range is a geological area that contains several mountains within a location.
Most Mountain Ranges are created when plate tectonics (Continental and Continental) crash into each other on the plate margin/boundary. This process requires millions of years to be created. As these plates are pushed into each other, incredible amounts of energy is used, thus crumpling into each other, this looks to be very similar to cars crashing into each other.
External forces that would affect this process would be specifically weathering and erosion.
- Erosion : "Erosion is the process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface" - Wikipedia . Erosion affects Mountain Ranges by shaping the mountain by removing such rocks.
- Weathering : "Weathering is the breaking down of rocks, soil, and minerals as well as artificial material through contact with the Earth's atmosphere, biota and waters." -Wikipedia. Weathering affects Mountain Ranges like Erosion, it affects the shaping of the mountain by dismantling the rock into smaller pieces.
Here are some examples of Mountain Ranges:
- Southern Alps
- Himalayas
- Alps
Mountain Ranges can affect humans quite largely.
- The moving of the plates will affect how sturdy the mountain is, and in very serious cases, bring down avalanches or mudslides.
- Villages aren't built on mountains because their slopes are too hard to build on
- It may also house dangerous animals such as wolves, bears and leopards
- Mountain Ranges attract tourists and give a very beautiful view, as shown in the slideshow above.
- It is a good natural divide for countries
- Possibility of mining for resources
A similar event to these would be (as mention above) the Himalayas.
It was formed the same way our Southern Alps was, two plates of the Earth, both being Continental (Indo-Australian and Eurasian plate) collided into each other, thus creating these mountain ranges.
It was formed the same way our Southern Alps was, two plates of the Earth, both being Continental (Indo-Australian and Eurasian plate) collided into each other, thus creating these mountain ranges.