Hills And Mountains

Hills and Mountains

Step-by-Step Geography

Peak vocabulary

mountain mountain range

continental divide

ridge

plateau altiplano canyon mesa

foothills glacier rain shadow

V-shaped valley

U-shaped valley

orographic effect

High PlacesHigh Places

What are the What are the differences differences between between hills…hills…

These are the Clay Hills in These are the Clay Hills in West Texas. Trees can grow at West Texas. Trees can grow at their tops and they would be their tops and they would be easy to climb.easy to climb.

… … and mountains?and mountains?

K2, the K2, the world’s world’s second second highest highest mountain mountain

GlaciersGlaciersAs the snow As the snow collects over collects over many years, many years, an ice field an ice field forms. Ice forms. Ice flows down flows down the valleys the valleys and slopes and slopes of the of the mountains mountains to the lower to the lower elevations, elevations, and glaciers and glaciers are born.are born.

Glaciers spread and Glaciers spread and recederecede

Alaska glaciers

Glaciers in Alaska’s Glaciers in Alaska’s Denali National Park.Denali National Park.

Continental DivideContinental DivideA series of A series of mountain ridges mountain ridges extending from extending from Alaska to Mexico Alaska to Mexico that forms the that forms the watershed of watershed of North America. North America. Most of it runs Most of it runs along peaks of along peaks of the Rocky the Rocky Mountains and is Mountains and is often called the often called the Great Divide in Great Divide in the United States.the United States.

Mt. RushmoreMt. Rushmore

Relief map of the world’s mountain Relief map of the world’s mountain rangesranges

How are mountains How are mountains formed?formed?

Fold mountains are caused by the pressure of two Fold mountains are caused by the pressure of two plates compressing upwards and downwards to plates compressing upwards and downwards to create mountain ranges such as the Himalayas.create mountain ranges such as the Himalayas.

Mt. EverestMt. Everest

At 29,048 ft., Mt. Everest in the Himalayan range is the At 29,048 ft., Mt. Everest in the Himalayan range is the world’s highest peak. As of 2002, almost 1,500 people have world’s highest peak. As of 2002, almost 1,500 people have stood on the summit and 173 climbers have died trying.stood on the summit and 173 climbers have died trying.

The The HimalayasHimalayas

Mountains like the Mountains like the Himalaya Range of Himalaya Range of Tibet resulted from Tibet resulted from the collision of the the collision of the continents. About continents. About 50 millions years 50 millions years ago moving ago moving tectonic plates tectonic plates brought the continents of Asia and India into brought the continents of Asia and India into contact with one another. contact with one another.

Mauna Loa Mauna Loa rises 16, 400 rises 16, 400 ft. from the ft. from the sea floor sea floor giving it a total giving it a total height of height of 30,080 ft.30,080 ft.

Mauna Loa – Mauna Loa – World’s tallest World’s tallest mountainmountain

V-shaped valleys becomeU-shaped valleys

As glacial ice squeezes into V-shaped river valleys As glacial ice squeezes into V-shaped river valleys from the upper mountains, the grinding rock-filled from the upper mountains, the grinding rock-filled ice carves out the valley bottom. After the ice melts ice carves out the valley bottom. After the ice melts away, the valley appears U-shaped.away, the valley appears U-shaped.

The Appalachian mountain chain was once much The Appalachian mountain chain was once much taller, but the forces of erosion have reduced them to taller, but the forces of erosion have reduced them to “hills” by most definitions. The part of that chain is “hills” by most definitions. The part of that chain is known as the Alleghenies in western New York.known as the Alleghenies in western New York.

Appalachian “Mountains”Appalachian “Mountains”

Orographic EffectOrographic Effect text pg. 50text pg. 50

Only one in ten days are Only one in ten days are clear of rain on this side of clear of rain on this side of Mt. RainierMt. Rainier

This area on the side of This area on the side of Washington State’s Mt. Washington State’s Mt. Rainier is sheltered from Rainier is sheltered from prevailing winds and rain-prevailing winds and rain-bearing clouds, resulting bearing clouds, resulting in relatively dry in relatively dry conditions.conditions.

Rain shadowRain shadow

Links

Crewe, Sabrina, Hills and Mountains, Children’s Press, Grolier, London 1996http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~simpson/everest.jpghttp://www.pirateplanet.com/nm/Clay_Hills_In_Texas.jpghttp://www.main-vision.com/richard/mountain.htmhttp://wowweather.com/RS/rainier01.php?img=MtRRS05http://www-users.cs.umn.edu/~dutta/MtRainier2004/images/Rain0001.JPGhttp://www.oceansatlas.com/unatlas/-ATLAS-/IMAGES/HIGH/m116-117.jpg