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Mountains are important landforms
that stand out from the surrounding terrain. They are the outcome of millions
of years of tectonic plate movement and collision, volcanic activity, or
erosion. Fold Mountains, volcanic mountains, and plateau mountains are among
the various types.
The two tectonic plates collide
and push against one another then the land folds and rises which results in creating
Fold Mountains. These Fold Mountains can be located in places such as the
Himalayas in Asia and the Rocky Mountains in North America. When molten rock,
ash, and gases escape the Earth's interior and mount up on its surface, so volcanic
mountains are formed. Volcanic mountains contain Mount St. Helens in the United
States and Mount Vesuvius in Italy. Similarly large and flat areas of land are
raised and tilted, forming high plateaus with steep sides and the Plateau
Mountains and these Plateau Mountains can be seen in South America's Andes.
Plants and animals can acclimate to
a unique and challenging environment in the mountains. To survive harsh
mountain environments, plentiful plants and animals have nurtured unique
adaptations. High-altitude plants, for instance, have larger leaves and smaller
stomata to maintain water and take in more sunlight. Mountain goats, on the
other hand, can navigate steep and rocky terrain due to their thick fur and
hooves.
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Moreover, the numerous rivers and
streams of the world originate from the lofty and mighty mountains, making them
a vital part of the hydrological cycle. On mountain peaks, snow and ice melt into
streams, which then flow into rivers, providing fresh water for drinking,
irrigation, generating electricity and other purposes.
In addition, the mountains offer various types of opportunities such as recreation, mountaineering, climbing, skiing, hiking and other tourism purposes as well. There are a lot of mountain ranges entire the globe that are popular tourist destinations that attract millions of visitors annually from different countries. However, the growing popularity of mountain recreational activities has resulted in the degradation and deterioration of the environmental resources and extreme use of some mountain regions and different destinations.
Moreover, mountains can also be hazardous,
regardless of their rugged beauty. Avalanches, earthquakes, and other natural
disasters can be dangerous to humans and animals in the same way. Mountains are
also being influenced by climate change, which is causing glaciers to melt, changing
the patterns of water flow, and causing a threat to ecosystems and mountain communities.