Mountains are different: old and young, rocky and gentle, dome-like and peak-like. Some of them are covered with dense forests, others - with lifeless stone deposits. But in this article we will talk about their height. Which mountains are medium and which are considered high?
Mountain as a landform
First of all, it is worth answering the question of whether this is a positive form of relief, characterized by a sharp and isolated uplift of the terrain. In any grief, three basic elements are clearly visible:
- vertex;
- foot;
- slope.
Any mountain system of the planet is nothing more than a complex system of valleys (depressions) and ridges, consisting of dozens of individual peaks. All of them are external manifestations of the internal (endogenous) forces of the Earth - tectonic movements of the earth's crust and volcanism.
Mountains create beautiful and unique landscapes on the surface of our planet. They are distinguished by their peculiar soil cover, unique flora and fauna. But people are extremely reluctant to settle in the mountains. According to statistics, about 50% of the earth's population lives at altitudes not exceeding 200 meters above sea level.
Classification of mountains in geomorphology. Mountains are medium, low and high
In geomorphological science, mountains are usually classified according to a number of characteristics: age, height, geographic location, genesis, shape of peaks, etc.
By their origin, they can be tectonic, denudation or volcanic, by age - old or young. Moreover, the young is the mountain system, the formation time of which does not exceed 50 million years. By geological standards, this is a very small age.
According to the shape of their peaks, mountains are:
- lance-shaped;
- domed;
- plateau-like ("canteens").
By height above sea level, geographers distinguish mountains:
- low;
- medium;
- high.
Sometimes in the literature you can also find intermediate high-altitude types, for example, medium-high or medium-low mountains. It should be noted right away that mountains of medium height can be found in any part of the world. However, most of them are in Europe and Asia.
Middle mountains: examples and elevation
8848 meters - this is the highest peak in the world - Chomolungma, or Everest. The absolute height of the middle mountains is much more modest: from 1 to 3 km above sea level.
The most famous examples of such mountain systems are the Carpathians, Appalachians, Tatras, Apennines, Pyrenees, Scandinavian and Drakensberg mountains, Australian Alps, Stara Planina. There are mountains in the middle and within Russia. These are the Ural Mountains, Eastern Sayan, Sikhote-Alin (pictured below) and others.
An important feature of the middle mountains is the presence of altitudinal zonation. That is, vegetation and landscapes here change with height.
Carpathians
The Carpathians are the largest mountain system in Europe, covering eight countries. Linguists, explaining the origin of its name, came to the conclusion that this toponym has Proto-Indo-European roots and is translated as “stone”, “rock”.
The Carpathians stretched in an arc of one and a half thousand kilometers, from the Czech Republic to Serbia. And the highest point of this mountain system is located on the territory of Slovakia (Mount Gerlahovski Shtit, 2654 m). An interesting fact: between the Alps and the extreme eastern spurs of the Carpathians - only 15 kilometers.
The Carpathians are young mountains. They formed in the Cenozoic. However, their outlines are smooth, gently sloping, which is more inherent in old geological structures. This can be explained by the fact that the Carpathians are predominantly composed of soft rocks (chalk, limestone and clay).
The mountain system is divided into three conventional parts: Western, Eastern (or Ukrainian) and Southern Carpathians. It also includes the Transylvanian Plateau. are characterized by a fairly high seismicity. The so-called Vrancea zone is located here, which "produces" earthquakes with a magnitude of 7-8 points.
Appalachian
Geomorphologists often refer to the Appalachians as the identical twin of the Carpathians. In appearance, they differ little from each other. The Appalachian Mountains are located in the eastern part of North America, within two states (USA and Canada). They stretch from to the Gulf of Mexico in the south. The total length of the mountain system is about 2500 kilometers.
If the European Carpathians are young mountains, then the American Appalachians are a product of the earlier Hercynian and Caledonian folds. They formed about 200-400 million years ago.
The Appalachians are rich in various mineral resources. Coal, asbestos, oil, iron ore are mined here. In this regard, this mountainous region is also very often referred to as the historical "industrial belt" of the United States.
Australian alps
It turns out that the Alps are not only in Europe. Inhabitants of the smallest and driest continent can also go hiking in the real Alps. But only in Australian!
This mountain system is located in the southern part of the continent. It is here that the highest point of all Australia is located - Mount Kostsyushko (2228 m). And on the slopes of these mountains originates the longest river on the mainland - the Murray.
The Australian Alps are stunningly diverse in terms of landscape. In these mountains you can find snow-capped peaks, deep green valleys, and lakes with clear water. The slopes of the mountains are decorated with bizarre rocks. The Australian Alps are home to several scenic national parks and excellent ski resorts.
Finally
Now you know which mountains are medium and which are high. Geomorphologists distinguish three types of mountain systems in terms of height. The average mountains are between 1000 and 3000 meters above sea level. Carpathians, Appalachians, Australian Alps - these are the most striking examples of such mountain systems in the world.
Mountain classification by height - medium (height m) Ural
The Ural Mountains are a mountain system between the East European and West Siberian plains. The length of the Ural Mountains is more than 2000 km, the width is from 40 to 150 km. In ancient sources, the Ural Mountains are called the Riphean or Hyperborean mountains. Russian pioneers called it Stone. The name Ural is from the Mansi "ur" (mountain). The Ural Mountains were formed in the Late Paleozoic during the era of intense mountain building (Hercynian folding).
Mount Narodnaya is the highest peak (1895 m) of the Urals. Discovered by the geologist A. N. Aleshkov in 1927, the mountain itself does not stand out in anything other than its height against the background of the surrounding mountains of the Subpolar Urals. It is characterized by the presence of karrs and circuses, in the depths of which lakes lie. There are glaciers and snowfields.
MORA ERMAK is a rocky massif (mountain), located in the Kungur region, Perm region. At the foot of the river Sylva flows. The rock is composed mainly of limestone. Ermak has three peaks, Ermak, Ermachikha, Ermachenok, they all have different heights. There is a cave in the mountain. The legend says that in ancient times Yermak Timofeevich spent the winter in this cave and allegedly hid a treasure there. The Ermak stone is a very popular tourist destination.
Vetlan Kamen Vetlan - rocky outcrops on the Vishera river, not far from the town of Krasnovishersk in the Perm region. Since 1981 it has been a protected landscape of regional importance. The stone is an almost sheer wall stretching along the Vishera River for 1750 meters. The height of the rocks reaches 100 meters. A large number of different plants grow in the area of the Vetlan stone, 15 of which are listed in the Red Book.
Volchikha, the highest mountain near Yekaterinburg (height 526m). The mountain is located near the town of Pervouralsk and the town of Revda. The rocky peak of the Wolf rises above the forest. Towards Revda and Pervouarlsk, in calm weather, the valley at the foot of the mountain is clearly visible. The Volchikhinskoe reservoir and the bends of the Chusovaya river are also clearly visible. You can also see the top of Belaya (527m.)
How are mountains depicted on a physical map? Remember the mountains you saw or depicted in the picture and tell about them.
1. Mountains. The mountain is a convex relief form with a well-defined peak, bottom and slopes. These are vast areas of the earth's surface, highly elevated above sea level, characterized by sharp fluctuations in altitude (Fig. 41.)
Rice. 41. Peak Khan-Tengri in the Tien Shan.
Separate mountains are very rare. Usually mountains, stretching out in succession, as if in a chain, stretch up to tens, and sometimes hundreds of kilometers. Mountain elevations stretched over long distances with a well-defined axis in the form of a single line, along which the greatest heights are grouped, are called mountain ranges.
Mountain ranges are separated from each other by intermontane depressions - mountain valleys. Mountain ranges, grouping together, form a mountainous country.
At the same time, the area of intersection of two or more mountain ranges is called a mountain knot. The mountain knot is usually located in very high and inaccessible places. For example, when crossing the Zailiysky Alatau and Kungey Alatau a mountain knot is formed on the Tien Shan Shelek-Keben.
The tallest mountains in the world - (fig. 42). There is the highest point on the globe - the top Chomolungma (Everest) - 8848 m.
Rice. 42. Himalayas.
A prime example of mountainous terrain is Pamir. There are mountains to the north of the Pamirs Tien Shan("Heavenly Mountains"). The highest point of the Tien Shan (Pobeda Peak) - 7439 m. Ural mountains, dividing Europe and Asia, although not very high (up to 1895 m), but their length reaches two and a half thousand kilometers.
2. Differences in height between mountains. By height, mountains are distinguished as low, medium, high. Low mountains are called mountains up to 1000 m. Saryarki in in the central part of Kazakhstan there are low mountains.
The middle mountains include mountains, the height of which reaches from 1000 to 2000 meters. For example, the mountains of Crimea and the Carpathians.
Mountains, the height of which is over 2000 m, are called high mountains. These mountains include Caucasus, Altai, Tien Shan, Zhungarskiy Alatau and Tarbagatai.
On the physical map, the mountains are shown in brown. The higher the mountains, the darker their color on the map. On the map, the height of the mountains can be determined by the height scale.
For example, using the elevation scale on the hemisphere map, you can determine that the height Himalaya mountains and Cordillera over 5000 m, and the absolute height Mugodzhary mountains in Kazakhstan 500-600 meters. The height of individual mountain peaks on the map is indicated by numbers. For example, the highest peak of the Tien Shan on Kazakh land is Khan Tengri peak(fig. 41) - 6995 m or the highest place mountains Sauyra - Muztau- 3816 m.
3.How to determine the geographical position of the mountains? First find the mountains on the map. With the help of a degree grid, approximately their geographical coordinates are determined. Further, the direction of the extension and the length of the mountains are determined. At the same time, the location of the mountains relative to other objects is established, for example, lakes, rivers, cities.
1. What are called mountains? What high mountains do you know?
2. What are mountain ranges?
3. What is the peculiarity of the mountainous area?
4. What mountains are distinguished?
5. On the map, determine which mountains in height belong to the Ural, Scandinavian, Alpine mountains?
6. What mountains are located in Eurasia approximately between the parallels of 40 ° -45 ° N. NS. and meridians 70 ° -90 ° E. etc.?
7. Find the mountains of the Cordillera on the map and determine their prevailing heights.
8. Draw on a contour map the largest mountains on the globe.
9. Describe the mountains in your area.
The mountains-cones that stand alone among the plains are very rare on the continents.
Mountains - vast, highly elevated areas of the earth's crust with a highly dissected relief, high above the surrounding plains.
Land mountains are entire mountainous countries stretching for hundreds and thousands of kilometers. The longest land mountains are the Andes, located in South America.
Mountainous countries consist of mountain ranges and intermountain valleys separating them.
A mountain range is an elongated uplift bounded by mountain slopes.
Intermountain valley is an elongated depression bounded by mountain slopes.
The slopes of ridges and valleys have different steepness (gentle, steep, steep) and different shapes (straight, concave, convex). The highest part of the ridge is the ridge.
A ridge is the line of intersection of the slopes of a ridge.
Ridges can be smooth, rounded, serrated. Rises on the ridge form peaks, and depressions form passes.
According to the absolute height, the mountains are divided into three groups: low - below \ (1000 \) m, medium - from \ (1000 \) to \ (2000 \) m and high - above \ (2000 \) m.
Mountains of different heights have different looks. Low mountains like Middle Ural , have gentle slopes and rounded tops.
High mountains like Himalayas , Andes , Caucasus , steeply rise up bare and gloomy rocks. Their ridges are cut by narrow and deep valleys, through which rushing mountain rivers flow.
The highest peaks are covered with snow and glaciers that do not melt even in summer.
Among the mountains of sushi first place in height occupy the Himalayas. They contain \ (11 \) peaks over \ (8000 \) m high. Among these peaks, the highest point in the world is Mount Everest, or Chomolungma. The highest peak in Russia - Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus.
Having hardly formed, the mountains immediately begin to collapse under the influence of external forces.
Vertical movements of the earth's crust lift the ridges up, and external processes tend to destroy them. The mountains are gradually decreasing, the slopes are becoming more gentle. River valleys are expanding. High mountains turn first into low ones, then into a plain.
-low ( up to 1000 m) - Ural, Scandinavian
-medium ( from 1000 m to 2000 m ) - Carpathians, Crimean
-high(more than 2000 m) - Tien Shan, Sayan Mountains, Caucasus Mountains
Methodology: can be identified on the map by color; in elementary school we give an idea of Ural and Caucasian mountains ..
Methodology: we give an idea about:
-"Plateau" - land elevation up to 600 m, having a relatively flat surface ( Central Siberian).
- "Lowlands" Is a piece of land up to 200 m above sea level ( Caspian (depression), West Siberian lowland.
- "heights"- this is the rise of land from 200 m to 500 m ( Middle Russian).\
3. Relief of the Orenburg region
A. Dimensions and boundaries of our land.
Square Orenburg region - 124,000 sq. km.
a) from west to east the territory of the region stretches for more than 700 km, and from south to north the distance between the borders is not the same: if in the western part it is equal to 300 km, then in the central part - 60 km, and in the eastern part - 200 km. The total length of the borders is about 3700 km.
In December 1937, an independent Orenburg region was formed. A year later it became known as Chkalovskaya, and in 1957 - Orenburgskaya. Today it consists of 34 administrative districts.
b ) borders Orenburg region:
The northwestern part borders on Tatarstan
Northern part - with Bashkortostan
In the North - East - with the Chelyabinsk region
All Eastern and Southern parts - with Kazakhstan
Western part - with the Samara region
South - Western part - with the Saratov region.
Located in the depths of the Eurasian continent, the Orenburg region is at the same time located in two parts of the world in Europe and Asia. The historical border between them within the region is drawn along the Ural River. In natural-historical terms, the Orenburg region is located in the center of Eurasia.
B. Territory of the Orenburg region is represented by three main parts (in terms of external features and relief features):
Part 1: Urals or Western Orenburg: from the western borders of the region to the valleys of the Bolshoi Ika and Urta-Burti rivers, it stretches for 300 km. This part is an elevated syrt plain with absolute heights from 260 to 400 m.
Part 2: Central Orenburg region (or the mountains of the South Urals): this part is small in area. This is the narrowest section of its territory, located east of the river valleys of Bolshoy Ika and Urta - Burti to the meridian section of the Ural valley.
Part 3: Eastern part of the Orenburg region - Orenburg Trans-Urals or Ural - Tobolsk plateau: from the meridially elongated valley of the Ural River to the borders with Kazakhstan. This part is an ancient plain, complicated by erosion (of primary origin).
The Orenburg Trans-Urals is a wavy, elevated plain. However, the flat relief is disturbed by hilly low ridges.
Conclusion: the western and eastern parts of the region developed in different geological conditions.
B. Modern relief of the Orenburg region formed as a result of prolonged erosion of the Ural folds and the pre-Ural syrt plains, as well as under the influence of the latest tectonic movements. In the West and East of the region, the relief is characterized by leveled interfluves and gentle slopes with low remnant ridges, and in the central part, on the interfluve of the Bolshoi Ika and Sakmara rivers, it is a low mountain.
Almost the entire western part of the region west of the Bolshoi Ik river belongs to the Common Syrt (the highest point is Bear Lob - 405 m). This upland is formed as a result of young tectonic uplifts and erosional activity of rivers.
In the extreme North - West of the region, the Bugulminsko - Belebeevskaya Upland adjoins the Common Syrt. In the South, General Syrt merges with the plain of the Caspian depression. To the east of the Bolshoi Ik and Burlya rivers is the Ural mountainous country. The central part of the Sakmaro - Ural interfluve is occupied by a highland plain.