Mountains

 

 

 

How are mountains formed?

There are three main ways in which mountains can be formed. Volcanoes form mountains when lava from deep inside the Earth cools and hardens on the surface. Other mountains are formed when layers of rock are forced up into folds, or when rocks fracture to cause faults, allowing slabs of rock to be raised up. These movements are caused by the very gradual shifting of the land areas, which sets up stresses in the Earth’s crust. 

Picture credit: google

 

 

 
 
 

Which are the oldest mountains?

Low, smooth mountain ranges are the oldest. The most recently formed mountains are usually jagged and steep, because their rocks have not been worn away and smoothed by erosion. Over millions of years, the rocks wear away and the shape of the mountains becomes more rounded. ]

Eventually, they may wear away completely. When measured in geological time, most of the world’s mountains are still relatively young. 

 

Picture credit: google