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Geology - Mountains
This mountain is one of the main locations for ice climbing in the UK.

Geology - Mountains

Mountains shape weather, rivers and habitats, and they tell stories of Earth’s forces. Explore how mountains form, change over time, and leave clues in the landscape.

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Fascinating Fact:

Glaciers can carve deep valleys, leaving distinctive U-shaped profiles that are different from the V-shaped valleys made by rivers.

In Specialist Nature, mountains are a great way to connect geology with what you can actually see outdoors. Some mountains form when tectonic plates push together and fold rock, others build up from volcanic eruptions, and all mountains are shaped by erosion. Over time, ice, wind, and running water break rock down and move it, creating features like sharp ridges, scree slopes, corries, and dramatic valleys that help explain how a landscape has changed.

Key Terms

  • Tectonic plates: Huge slabs of Earth’s crust that move slowly and can build mountains when they collide or pull apart.
  • Erosion: The wearing away and movement of rock and soil by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
  • Fold mountain: A mountain formed when layers of rock are pushed together and bend upwards during plate collision.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How are mountains formed?

Mountains form in several ways, most commonly when tectonic plates collide and push rock upwards. They can also form from volcanic activity, where lava and ash build up over time, or from faulting, where blocks of crust are lifted along fractures.

What is the difference between a mountain and a hill?

A mountain is generally higher and steeper than a hill, but there is no single worldwide height that defines the difference. In many places, local maps and tradition decide what counts as a mountain, based on shape, steepness, and relative height.

Why are mountains colder than lowland areas?

Mountains are colder because air temperature usually decreases with height. As air rises it expands and cools, so higher ground often has lower temperatures, more snow and ice, and shorter growing seasons than nearby lowlands.

Try These Related Quizzes

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1 .
What is the name of this mountain?
Photograph courtesy of Stemonitis
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  • Elevation: 636 m (2,088 ft)
  • Prominence: 488 m (1,601 ft)
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  • On the west, a river flows straight off the edge in a stunning waterfall.
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  • Elevation: 8,848 m (29,029 ft)
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  • Named after a British surveyor-general of India.
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We know Everest isn't in the UK, but we couldn't leave out the highest mountain in the world!
3 .
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  • Elevation: 886 m (2,907 ft)
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  • Prominence: 912 m (2,992 ft)
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8 .
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9 .
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10 .
What is the name of this mountain?
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Author:  Sarah Garratty
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