Massif

As a solid ( französ. " massive ", "compact" ), a closed block of rock is referred to as massif ( mass Mountains ) massif, mountain summit Stock or Stock and the like.

Basics

Massive are not as mountain ranges ( Cordillera ) and mountain ranges organized, but have a more compact shape and are completely bounded by valleys or valley -pass trains and show up as more or less detached geomorphological unit.

Geologic be solid forms in their different rock formation and history under the terms floor with perpendicular orientation of the layers of rock cliff at erosive pre- storage to a compact rock unit, or plaice in tectonic demolition summarized.

Massifs

Mountain Building Massive are called mass Mountains. Many of these larger massifs have a high geological age and represent former high mountains, of which only about half of the old peak heights remained. Typically, this form of low mountains. Such ancient massifs can be (see also plate) by erosion largely disappear or hull mountains. Such forms without pronounced peaks form called dome mountains ( Franconian Forest ) or plateau mountains (such as the Swabian Alb).

Examples:

• Bohemian Massif in northeastern Bohemia and Austria, old trunk from pre-Alpine mountain time
• The Massif Central of France
• Is the Maures Mountains on the southern edge of the Alps, which does not belong to them, but a piece of the African tectonic plate

Massifs

Individual mountain or mountain compact groups called massif or floor. They are characterized by steep slopes, and often form a plateau mountain with a ridged plateau or a mesa with plateau. Even for moderate, primarily stone volcanoes, the word is used.

Under this mountain shape would generally be the relatively highest mountains - that is measured from its base in - a region. In high mountain saddle heights of 300-500 meters meters as a minimum for a standalone mountain, the Mont Ventoux are about rising above 1600 meters above the hills of the Rhône valley and has a corresponding Vertical separation. This applies even more for volcanoes, such as the chain of volcanoes in East Africa with the Kilimanjaro as " the highest freestanding mountain in the world," said Elbrus, or the Mount St. Helens.

Examples:

• Limestone massifs are typical developments of the resistant Massenkalke, partly reef limestone, so true coral reefs: Mountains of the Limestone Alps as Zugspitze, Dachstein Massif, Hagengebirge, Tennen Mountains, the Vienna House Rax and Schneeberg in the northern Alps; or the Marmolada in the Southern Alps, Triglav Group in Slovenia, Vercors Mountains in eastern France; all with the typical, partly eponymous karst plateaus ( Höllengebirge, Sengsengebirge, Steinernes Sea) and often lack the main summit

Massive summit

Peak formations in stock form are often: The top of the mountain then forms an opposite its main mass significantly stepped shape. Reason, changing rock formation in the structure of the mountain.

More extreme shape is called rock tower or battlement.

Massifs as a motif in art

Painter and art photographers have become, since the mountain itself as the subject is (mountain painting), selected massifs as a motive. People appreciate their distinctive shapes, in particular those that have pronounced steep slopes and are well appreciated from the valley. From the Styrian mountain Grimming, by the Dachstein massif thousands of paintings are each created, even by famous artists such as Gauer man. Also known are motifs from the Bernese Alps ( Eiger, Jungfrau etc. ), from Watzmannhaus floor, from the central German resin or the Dolomites, as well as in Chinese painting, the mountain as a motive for its own sake since antiquity knows, and in modern Japanese art (such as the 36 Views of Mount Fuji by Hokusai ). That there are all selected views of a mountain Stocks that attract the artists portray famous places such as the painter angle as well as temples and pagodas in the sacred mountains of China, suggesting an entirely defined, particularly picturesque section of the landscape.