Explore mountains

Mountains are areas of land that are much higher than the land surrounding them.

They are higher and usually steeper than a hill and are generally over 600 metres high. They are often found together in a group called a mountain range.

Some well-known mountain ranges in the world include:

• the Himalayas in Asia, the tallest mountain range in the world
• the Andes in South America, the longest range on land in the world
• the Alps in Europe
• the Urals, a natural border between Europe and Asia
• the Rocky Mountains, the longest range in North America
• the Atlas mountains in North Africa

The highest mountain ranges are created by tectonic plates pushing together and forcing the ground up where they meet. This is how the mountains of the Himalayas in Asia were formed.

Tectonic plates are also at work under the Atlantic Ocean.

Instead of forcing the ground up, the two plates in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean are actually moving apart in opposite directions.

This causes lava to erupt out of the gap that is left.

As it cools down, the lava creates a long line of mountains under the ocean called the Mid-ocean Ridge - the longest mountain range on Earth.

The longest mountain range on land is the Andes in South America. The Andes run for over 7,000km.

Other mountains (usually those that stand on their own) are created by ancient volcanoes.

Ben Nevis in Scotland was once a very large active volcano. It last erupted millions of years ago and the eruption was so violent that it caved in on itself.

The highest mountains in the UK are:

• Ben Nevis in Scotland (also the highest in the UK)
• Scafell Pike in England
• Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland
• Snowdon in Wales

• Australia has a mountain range called the Australian Alps.
• There are mountain ranges in Antarctica.
• Asia has most of the highest mountain ranges in the world.
• About 24% of the world’s total land surface is covered by mountains.