Mountain
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[[Image:Damavand in winter.jpg|thumb|right|Mount [[Damavand]], [[Iran]]]]
[[Image:From the top of stonyman summit.jpg|thumb|right|[[Blue Ridge Mountains]] in [[Shenandoah]] National Park, [[Virginia]], USA]]
A '''mountain''' is a [[landform]] that extends above the surrounding [[terrain]] in a limited area, with a peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a '''[[hill]]''', but there is no universally accepted standard definition for the height of a mountain or a hill although a mountain usually has an identifiable summit. Mountains cover 64% of [[Asia]], 36% of [[North America]], 25% of [[Europe]], 22% of [[South America]], 17% of [[Australia]], and 3% of [[Africa]]. As a whole, 24% of the Earth's land mass is mountainous. 10% of people live in mountainous regions. Most of the world's rivers are fed from mountain sources, and more than half of humanity depends on mountains for water.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wateryear2003.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=3903&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |title=International Year of Freshwater 2003 |accessdate=2006-12-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mountain.org/mountains/whymtns.cfm?slidepage=water |title=The Mountain Institute |accessdate=2006-12-07}}</ref>
The adjective '''montane''' is used to describe mountainous areas and things associated with them.
==Definitions==
[[Image:BenNevis2005.jpg|thumb|left|[[Ben Nevis]], a 1344 m (4409 ft) ''munro,'' [[Grampian Mountains]], [[Scotland]]]]
Some authorities define a mountain as a peak with a [[topographic prominence]] over a defined value: for example, according to the ''Britannica Student Encyclopedia'', the term "generally refers to rises over 2,000 [[foot (unit of length)|feet]] (610 m)".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article-9275956?&query=mountain&ct=%22ebi%22Britannica|title=Mountain -- Britannica Student Encyclopedia |accessdate=2007-01-08}}</ref> The [[Encyclopædia Britannica]], on the other hand, does not prescribe any height, merely stating that "the term has no standardized geological meaning".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9372713 |title=Mountain -- Britannica Concise Encyclopedia - The online encyclopedia you can trust! |accessdate=2007-01-08}}</ref>
===In the United Kingdom ===
In [[England and Wales]] the [[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]] has defined "mountain" (as a [[mass noun]]) as all land over 600 metres for the purposes of [[Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000|right to roam legislation]].<ref>http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/consult/access/statut.htm</ref> This is a close metric equivalent of 2,000 feet (610 m). The [[Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003]] does not appear to draw this distinction, and in [[Scotland]] the term "mountain" is more subjective, often being used for hills exceeding 3,000 feet (914.4 m) listed as [[Munro]]s. In the United Kingdom the term "hill" is commonly used for all hills and mountains, regardless of height.{{-}}[[Image:Fowler mountain.jpg|right|thumb|[[Fowler Mountain]] of [[Connecticut]], only 750 feet (229 m), is considered a mountain locally.]]
===In the United States===
In the United States, the [[United States Board on Geographic Names|U.S. Board on Geographic Names]] lists hundreds of landscape features under {{convert|1000|ft|m|0|lk=on}} (some as low as 100 feet) named as "mountains." This is true for all parts of the United States, including the west coast where such lofty ranges as the [[Cascade Mountains]] dominate. And yet the Board does not attempt to distinguish between such features as mountains, hills, or other prominences, and simply categorizes all of them as ''summit,'' regardless of what they are called or how high they are. However, the Board ''does'' list ''and'' categorize such low mountain ranges as the [[Mount Tom Range]] (with a high point of 1,200 feet; 366 m) as ''range.''[http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/index.html]
===Height===
[[Image:K2-big.jpg|thumb|left|[[K2]], {{convert|8611|m|ft}},[[Karakoram Range]],[[Pakistan]].]]
The height of a mountain is measured as the [[elevation]] of its [[summit (topography)|summit]] above mean [[sea level]]. The [[Himalayas]] average 5 [[kilometre|km]] above sea level, while the [[Andes]] average 4 km. The highest mountain on land is [[Mount Everest|Everest]], {{convert|8848|m|ft}} in the [[Himalayas]].
Other definitions of height are possible. The peak that is farthest from the center of the [[Earth]] is [[Chimborazo (volcano)|Chimborazo]] in [[Ecuador]]. At {{convert|6267|m|ft}} above sea level it is not even the tallest peak in the [[Andes]], but because Chimborazo is very close to the [[equator]] and the Earth [[wikt:bulge|bulge]]s at the equator, it is {{convert|2150|m|ft}} further away from the Earth's center than Everest.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9428163 The 'Highest' Spot on Earth? : NPR<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The peak that rises farthest from its base is [[Mauna Kea]] on [[Hawaii]], whose peak is {{convert|10200|m|ft|sigfig=3}} above its base on the floor of the [[Pacific Ocean]].<ref>[http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/hawaii/page42.html Eruptions of Hawaiian Volcanoes [USGS]<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Even though Everest is the highest mountain on Earth today, there have been much taller mountains in the past. During the [[Precambrian]] [[era]], the [[Canadian Shield]] once had mountains {{Unit m|12000|0}}<ref>
{{cite book
|last=Clark
|first=Bruce W.
|chapter=Geologic History|pages=pp. 95
|title=Making Connections: Canada's Geography
|year=1999
|edition=
|publisher=Prentice Hall Ginn Canada
|location=Scarborough, Ontario
|id=ISBN 0-13-012635-7}}</ref> in height that are now eroded down into rolling hills. These formed by the collision of [[plate tectonics|tectonic plates]] much like the Himalaya and the [[Rocky Mountains]].
At {{convert|26|km|ft}} (Fraknoi et al., 2004), the tallest known mountain in the [[solar system]] is [[Olympus Mons]], located on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] and is an ancient volcano.
Volcanoes have been known to erupt on other planets and moons in our solar system in our life-times (volcanoes on Venus for example, constantly erupt) and some of them erupt ice instead of lava.
Several years ago, the Hale telescope recorded the first known live images of a volcano erupting on a moon in our solar system.
==Characteristics==
High mountains, and mountains located closer to the Earth's poles, have elevations that exist in colder layers of the atmosphere. They are consequently often subject to [[glaciation]] and [[erosion]] through frost action. Such processes produce the popularly recognizable mountain [[pyramidal peak|peak]] shape. Some of these mountains have [[glacial lake]]s, created by melting glaciers; for example, there are an estimated 3,000 glacial lakes in [[Bhutan]].
[[Image:Olympus Litochoro.JPG|thumb|right|[[Mount Olympus (Mountain)|Mount Olympus]] in [[Greece]].]]
Sufficiently tall mountains have very different climatic conditions at the top than at the base, and will thus have different [[life zone]]s at different altitudes. The flora and fauna found in these zones tend to become isolated since the conditions above and below a particular zone will be inhospitable to those organisms. These isolated ecological systems are known as [[sky island]]s and/or [[microclimates]]. [[Tree forest]]s are forests on mountain sides which attract moisture from the trees, creating a unique [[ecosystem]]. Very tall mountains may be covered in ice or snow.
Mountains are colder than lower ground, because the Sun heats Earth from the ground up. The Sun's radiation travels through the atmosphere to the ground, where Earth absorbs the heat. Air closest to the Earth's surface is, in general, warmest (see [[lapse rate]] for details). Air as high as a mountain is poorly warmed and, therefore, cold.<ref>[http://weatherquesting.com/cold-mountains.htm Why is it colder in the mountains than in the valley?]</ref> Air temperature normally drops 1 to 2 degrees Celsius (1.8 to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) for each 300 meters (1000 feet) of altitude.
Mountains are generally less preferable for [[human]] habitation than lowlands; the weather is often harsher, and there is little level ground suitable for [[agriculture]]. At very high altitudes, there is less [[oxygen]] in the air and less protection against solar radiation ([[Ultraviolet|UV]]). [[Acute mountain sickness]] (caused by [[Hypoxia (medical)|hypoxia]] - a lack of oxygen in the blood) affects over half of lowlanders who spend more than a few hours above 3,500 meters (11,483 feet).
A number of mountains and mountain ranges of the world have been left in their natural state, and are today primarily used for [[recreation]], while others are used for [[logging]], [[mining]], [[grazing]], or see little use of any sort at all. Some mountains offer spectacular views from their summits, while others are densely wooded. Summit accessibility ranges from mountain to mountain; height, steepness, latitude, terrain, weather, and the presence or lack thereof of [[road]]s, [[ski lift|lifts]], or [[aerial tramway|tramway]]s are all factors that affect accessibility. [[Hiking]], [[backpacking (wilderness)|backpacking]], [[mountaineering]], [[rock climbing]], [[ice climbing]], [[downhill skiing]], and [[snowboarding]] are recreational activities typically enjoyed on mountains. Mountains that support heavy recreational use (especially downhill skiing) are often the locations of [[mountain resort]]s.
==Types of mountains==
[[Image:Cervin sunrise.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Matterhorn]], the classical [[pyramidal peak]] ]]
Mountains can be characterized in several ways. Some mountains are [[volcanoes]] and can be characterized by the type of lava and eruptive history. Other mountains are shaped by [[glacier|glacial processes]] and can be characterized by their [[glaciated]] features. Still others are typified by the [[fault (geology)|faulting]] and [[fold (geology)|folding]] of the Earth's crust, or by the collision of [[continental plates]] via [[plate tectonics]] (the Himalayas, for instance). Shape and placement within the overall landscape also define mountains and mountainous structures (such as [[butte]] and [[monadnock]]). Finally, many mountains can be characterized by the type of [[rock (geology)|rock]] that make up their composition. More information on mountain types can be found in ''[[List of mountain types]].''
==Geology==
<imagemap>
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everest.
rect 58 14 160 49 [[Chomo Lonzo]]
rect 200 28 335 52 [[Makalu]]
rect 378 24 566 45 [[Mount Everest]]
rect 188 581 920 656 [[Tibetan Plateau]]
rect 250 406 340 427 [[Rong River]]
rect 333 149 409 186 [[Changtse]]
rect 550 284 677 303 [[Rongbuk Glacier]]
rect 478 196 570 218 [[Mount Everest|North Face]]
rect 237 231 346 267 [[East Rongbuk Glacier]]
rect 314 290 536 309 [[Mount Everest|North Col north ridge route]]
rect 531 79 663 105 [[Lhotse]]
rect 582 112 711 130 [[Nuptse]]
rect 603 232 733 254 [[South Col|South Col route]]
rect 716 165 839 206 [[Gyachung Kang]]
rect 882 147 967 183 [[Cho Oyu]]
rect 1 1 999 661 [[Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|Press hyperlinks (or button to enlarge image)]]
desc bottom-left
</imagemap>
A mountain is usually produced by the movement of lithospheric plates, either [[orogeny|orogenic movement]] or [[epeirogenic movement]]. The compressional forces, isostatic uplift and intrusion of [[igneous rock|igneous matter]] forces surface rock upwards, creating a landform higher than the surrounding features. The height of the feature makes it either a hill or, if higher and steeper, a mountain. The absolute heights of features termed mountains and hills vary greatly according to an area's [[terrain]]. The major mountains tend to occur in long linear arcs, indicating tectonic plate boundaries and activity. Two types of mountain are formed depending on how the rock reacts to the tectonic forces – block mountains or fold mountains.
The compressional forces in continental collisions may cause the compressed region to thicken, so the upper surface is forced upwards. In order to balance the weight, much of the compressed rock is forced ''downwards'', producing deep "mountain roots". Mountains therefore form downwards as well as upwards (see [[isostasy]]). However, in some continental collisions part of one continent may simply ''override'' part of the others, crumpling in the process.
Some isolated mountains were produced by [[volcano]]es, including many apparently small [[island]]s that reach a great height above the [[ocean]] floor.
Block mountains are created when large areas are widely broken up by faults creating large vertical displacements. This occurrence is fairly common. The uplifted blocks are block mountains or ''[[Horst (geology)|horst]]s''. The intervening dropped blocks are termed ''[[graben]]'': these can be small or form extensive rift valley systems. This form of [[landscape]] can be seen in [[East Africa]], the [[Vosges]], the [[Basin and Range]] province of Western [[North America]] and the [[Rhine]] valley. These areas often occur when the regional stress is extensional and the [[crust (geology)|crust]] is thinned.
The [[mid-ocean ridge]]s are often referred to as undersea mountain ranges due to their bathymetric prominence.
Where rock does not fault it folds, either symmetrically or asymmetrically. The upfolds are ''anticlines'' and the downfolds are ''synclines''; in asymmetric folding there may also be recumbent and overturned folds. The Jura mountains are an example of folding. Over time, erosion can bring about an inversion of relief: the soft upthrust rock is worn away so the anticlines are actually lower than the tougher, more compressed rock of the synclines.
==See also==
*[[List of mountains]]
*[[List of highest mountains]]
*[[:Category:Lists of mountains]]
*[[Geographic accident]] {{Rhere}}
*[[Latin names of mountains]]
*[[Mountain range]] and [[list of mountain ranges]]
*[[Mountaineering]]
*[[List of ski areas and resorts]]
*[[List of peaks by prominence]]
==Gallery==
<!-- It would be nice if this section allowed for a diversity of mountain forms, and sizes; it should also reflect a diversity of global regions. -->
<gallery>
Image:102_0245eve.jpg|[[Mount Everest]], {{convert|8848|m|ft}}, [[Himalayas]], [[Nepal]].
Image:Mount Kilimanjaro 2007.jpg|[[Mount Kilimanjaro]], {{convert|5895|m|ft}}, [[Tanzania]].
Image:Mount Feathertop and Razorback.jpg|[[Mount Feathertop]], {{convert|1922|m|ft}}, [[Great Dividing Range]], [[Victoria, Australia]]
Image:PIlotMountainNC big pinnacle.jpg|[[Pilot Mountain (North Carolina)|Pilot Mountain]], {{convert|738|m|ft}}, [[Sauratown Mountains]], [[North Carolina|North Carolina, United States]]
Image:Appalachian quebec.jpg|Northern [[Appalachian Mountains]], [[Chic-Choc Mountains|Chic-Choc Range]], [[Gaspé Peninsula]], [[Quebec|Quebec, Canada]]
Image:Mount_Yu_Shan_-_Taiwan.jpg|[[Yu Shan]] (Jade Mountain), {{convert|3952|m|ft}}, [[Taiwan]].
Image:Finsteraarhorn3.jpg |[[Finsteraarhorn]], {{convert|4274|m|ft}}, [[Bernese Alps]], [[Switzerland]].
Image:PaodeAcucar.JPG|[[Sugarloaf Mountain, Brazil]], {{convert|396|m|ft}}, [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]].
</gallery>
==References==
{{wikiquote|Mountains}}
{{Commons|Gallery of mountains}}
{{reflist}}
*Fraknoi, A., Morrison, D., & Wolff, S. (2004). Voyages to the Planets. 3rd Ed. Belmont: Thomson Books/Cole.
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