MOUNTAINS
The world’s mountains were raised by the titanic forces that keep the plates of Earth’s crust moving. Where the plates grind together, the edges of continents are forced up into high, folded ridges, like the Andes Mountains in South America. Hot rock deep beneath the surface may erupt through cracks in the folded rock to form volcanoes. These also erupt where the crust is being torn apart, and over “hotspots” deep within Earth. The landscape below has been created from images of the highest peaks on each continent, and one that rises from the depths of the Pacific Ocean.
- MOUNT EVEREST
The world’s highest peak, Everest lies 8,850 m (29,035 ft) above sea level. It is part of the Himalayas, a range of Fold Mountains created by the collision of India with Asia
50 million years ago. India is still moving north, so the Himalayas are still rising.
- MOUNT ACONCAGUA
The Pacific Ocean floor is plunging beneath South America, rucking up its western edge to form the rugged, earthquake-prone mountains of the Andes. Mount Aconcagua is the highest peak, at 6,959 m (22,834 ft).
- MOUNT MCKINLEY
Rising 6,194 m (20,321 ft) above sea level, Mount McKinley in Alaska is the highest peak of the North American Western Cordillera. Its isolation and bulk make it one of the world’s most spectacular mountains.
- MOUNT KILIMANJARO
The highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro is actually a colossal volcano with three volcanic cones. The highest peak on the tallest cone, Kibo, rises 5,895 m (19,340 ft) above sea level. The other volcanic cones are Mawenzi and Shira.
- MAUNA KEA
The highest point on Hawaii is the top of a huge volcano that rises 10,000 m (33,000 ft) from the Pacific Ocean floor. So although its peak is only 4,205 m (13,796 feet) above sea level, it is the biggest mountain on Earth.
- VINSON MASSIF
The most remote mountains on Earth lie on the frozen continent of Antarctica. Overlooking the vast mass of the Ronne Ice Shelf, Vinson Massif in the Ellsworth range is the highest point at 4,897 m (16,067 ft).
- MONT BLANC
The folded ridges of the European Alps have been raised by the northward movement of Africa. Mont Blanc is the highest peak at 4,808 m (15,774 ft), but since its summit is a dome of ice its height varies from year to year.
- AORAKI (MOUNT COOK)
The highest peak in New Zealand, Aoraki’s name means “cloud piercer” in the native Maori language. The mountain is also known as Mount Cook. Now 2,744 m (12,284 ft) high, Aoraki was 10 m (33 ft) higher before a landslide in 1991.
Picture Credit : Google
