Mountain range

Under mountain range is defined as a result of high mountain summit or a contiguous mountain range within a larger mountain range. The term is also used for elongated fold mountains with several parallel chains ( Cordillera ).

While in the high mountains, the terms mountain range or mountain range are common, it is called in the highlands rather ridge or ridges, or in the hills of a range of hills.

Most commonly elongated mountain ranges occur in orogens of the type of wrinkles Mountains ( folding by lateral pressure ) and the ceiling Mountains ( overthrust thin package of rocks ) on. Other mountain species such as fracture or mountains or Horst hull mountains hardly form of parallel chains. In contrast, when a hull mountain is eroded to an elevated table-land, a progressive Zertalung can also be mountain ranges occur.

Emergence of parallel mountain ranges

The chain-like arrangement of the peaks and the formation of long, jagged mountain ridges - Spanish also called Sierra ( saw) - is a result of joint development by orogenic forces. The linear structure often depends not only on the direction of this thrust forces and the resulting mountain folds often with geological fault lines of the upper crust along which run between individual mountain ranges. In these fault zones which partially crushed rock is easily eroded, so that there is there to form larger river valleys. These so-called longitudinal valleys reinforce the existing trend in young orogens to the formation of parallel mountain ranges in addition.

That especially fold mountains (eg the Cordilleras ) to form an approximately parallel chains tend to do with their lithology and the shear forces of plate tectonics. The up -pressed package of rocks are either igneous plutonic rocks that are easily deformed by its heat, or deposited in the synclines sediments or metamorphic rocks with little tighter structure. Therefore, the orogen is folded, bent from the horizontal position and the side collapsed layers. The longitudinal extension of the fold is perpendicular to the direction of the lateral thrust. Similarly, the thrust folding a ceiling Mountains (eg the Central Alps ) are formed.

The world's encountered wrinkle, chain or ceiling Mountains are indeed originated at different times of the earth's side in the incipient stage but morphologically similar. Harder rocks form continuous ridges or back, following the strike of the layers and folds. The forming chains or back are therefore mutually approximately parallel. They are interrupted only by short, usually narrow cross valleys that often arise as transverse valley. In the course of geological erosion caused by water, ice and wind that the highest points of the ridges are removed and the fastest single peak or peak chains are carved out. Between arise cuts that form sharp notches, depending on altitude and rock, or softer mountain passes and saddles.

Predominant rocks and mountain shapes

Ceiling or fold mountains with their approximately parallel mountain chains have essentially a uniform geological age, but may consist of several rock types. To prevail in the Central Alps, the granitic rocks, gneisses and metamorphic slate, while the north and south of it emerged the Alps. The Northern Limestone Alps are again the soft Flyschberge and the Molasse zone upstream.

The type of rocks characterizes the appearance of the mountain ranges very clearly, because the erosion depending on rock hardness and petrological structure leads to very different forms. Play a role in addition to altitude and climate, the stratification of the rock, slope and aspect, water types and geological fault lines. For hard rock formations typical of the rugged walls (eg the Dolomites ) and their vast alluvial fan. In contrast, formed during flysch or slate soft mountain shapes and peaks, because the rock is hardly permeable to water, but readily deformable.