A simple yet useful map that summaries and illustrates the approximate geographical extents of various mountain ranges across the surface of the earth with location of their associated major peaks. Click to expand the legend button on top-left corner of the map window and check the content details. Zoom-in or out and play around the map to check the locations. Also, click on the red triangles on the map representing the summits to see their height details from mean sea level.
Let’s go back to the school days geography class and ask this questions - where are the mountain ranges and peaks located on this earth? Well, now no need to search them one by one in the map. The above map shows all mountain peaks and ranges in one place.Mountains are elevated land masses with peaks smaller than their base. A mountain range is a geographic area containing numerous highlands or mountain passes and valleys. Geologically explained, mountains are formed from collision of continent and upward convergence of the crust at continent edges. Mountains are of 4 types, classified based on the mode of their origin or formation: 1) Folded Mountains, 2) Block Mountains, 3) Volcanic Mountains, and 4) Relict or Residual Mountains.
Folded Mountains are formed by the crumbling or tag of crust rocks resulting in huge wrinkles and folds. These are result of earthquakes. Himalayas, Alps, Andes, etc. are the examples of folded mountains. Block Mountains formed by the lifting up of rock blocks between faults or by the sinking of the crust outside the faults. Volcanic Mountains are formed from accumulation of volcanic material that has erupted from inside the earth in the form of lava. Mount Fujiyama in Japan and Mount Visuvlus in Italy are examples of Volcanic Mountains. Relict or Residual Mountains are those which are deeply dissected and reduced by weathering and river action. All these mountain formation process are slow but gradual and takes millions and millions of years.
Now some facts about mountains. We all know that Mount Everest is the highest mountain on earth with its peak at 8,848 metres (29,029 ft) above sea level. However, that’s not exactly true. Some of the world’s tallest mountains lie mostly underwater. Mauna Kea in Hawaii rises 33,480 ft (10,205 m) from the ocean bed, which makes it taller than Mount Everest. The longest mountain chain on land is the Andes, which runs for 4,470 miles (7,200 km) down the western edge of South America. An undersea mountain chain called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is even longer. It stretches 7,000 miles (11,300 km) down the center of the Atlantic Ocean. All major tectonic activities on earth are associated with mountain ranges in some way or other.
Nevertheless, mountainous regions are mostly tourist attractions. Mountains are generally calm and splendor places on the earth that helps us to relax. Mountains also offer us sites for outdoor activities like hiking, trekking, skiing, snowboarding, etc. People like tourists, adventure lovers (hikers, trekkers, etc.), or even general enthusiast may need to browse through the above maps to find locations of mountainous regions and summits on the earth.
