Mountain range
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2008-07-13T13:48:04Z
Swansonville
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/* Climate */ minor correction of orographic rainfall
{{Unreferenced|date=July 2008}}
{{for|exotic financial options|Mountain range (options)}}
A '''mountain range''' is a chain of [[mountain]]s bordered by lowlands or separated from other mountains by [[mountain pass|passes]] or rivers. Individual mountains within the same mountain range do not necessarily have the same geology, though they often do; they may be a mix of different [[orogeny]], for example [[volcano]]es, uplifted mountains or [[Fold (geology)|fold]] mountains and may, therefore, be of different rock. The [[Andes]] is the world's longest mountain range. The Himalaya contains the world's highest mountains. The [[Arctic Cordillera]] is the world's northernmost mountain system and contains the highest point in eastern North America. [[Mount McKinley]] is the highest mountain peak in North America.
==Sub-ranges==
The mountain systems of the earth are characterized by a [[tree structure]], that is, many mountain ranges have sub-ranges within them. It can be thought of as a parent-child relationship. For example, the [[Appalachian Mountains]] are the parent range of other ranges comprising it, some of which include the [[White Mountains (New Hampshire)|White Mountains]] and the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]]. The White Mountains are a child of the Appalachians, and there are also children of the Whites, including the [[Sandwich Range]] and the [[Presidential Range]]. Further, the Presidential Range can be broken up into the Northern Presidential Range and Southern Presidential Range.
For more information, see [[List of mountain ranges]] and [http://www.peakbagger.com/rangindx.aspx Peakbagger Ranges Home Page].
==Climate==
The position of mountains influences climate, such as rainfall. When air masses move up over mountains, warm moist air cools to form [[orographic]] rainfall, leaving cooler, drier air to move down the leeward side.
Mountains location also affects temperature. If the sun is shining from the east, then the eastern side of the mountain will receive sunlight and warmth, while the other side will be shaded and cooled, so certain ecosystems maintain different biological clocks depending on the location of a mountain.
==Erosion==
Uplifted regions or volcanic caps can undergo erosion, which makes them move resulting in a range of mountains. An example is the [[English Lake District]]. Mountain streams carry eroded debris downhill and deposit it in [[alluvial plain]]s or in [[River delta|deltas]]. This forms the classical geological chain of events, leading to one type of [[sedimentary rock]] formation: [[erosion]], [[Transportation (sediment)|transportation]], [[Deposition (sediment)|deposition]] and [[Compaction (geology)|compaction]].
==Tectonic plate movement==
See: [[Plate tectonics]].
==See also==
*[[List of mountain ranges]]
*[[List of mountains]]
[[Category:Mountains]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges| ]]
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