Mountains
One of the most easily recognized land forms are mountains. Why is this? Because mountains are land forms that are typically higher than their surroundings. Mountains characteristically have steep, rising slopes that result in a peak at the top (Molnar). It is very rare for a mountain to occur on its own because mountains are formed by the movement of tectonic plates. This results typically, in mountain ranges or chains (Mountians).
An example of a mountain range are the Appalachian Mountains. The mountains that we have in North Carolina are a part of this mountain range. One of the ways that mountains can be formed is by convergent boundaries as mentioned in the section about plate tectonics. The plates bump into each other and cause an uplift that results in the formation of a mountain (American geographical, Volcanoes and earthquakes). Mountains can be caused by other types of movement in the earth such as erosion (National geographic, Erosion). Mountains that are formed this way are typically not as steep as mountains that are formed by the movement of tectonic plates.
Erosion is a way that many landforms come to be and is what happens when wind, rain, and ice cause part of the earth to break away. This can change the shape of the mountains once they have already formed or it can form low mountain ranges as already mentioned (Mountains). While tectonic plate movement and erosion are two contributing factors in mountain formation it is important to remember that these are not the only ways that mountains can be formed, they can also be formed by something called volcanism. Volcanism what happens when a volcanic mountain erupts and the lava that cools changes the way that a mountain is shaped (American geographical, Volcanoes and earthquakes). An example of a mountain that is shaped by potentially dangerous volcanic activity is Mount Rainier in Washington State. While the volcanic activity is dangerous, it is not constant.
One of the most easily recognized land forms are mountains. Why is this? Because mountains are land forms that are typically higher than their surroundings. Mountains characteristically have steep, rising slopes that result in a peak at the top (Molnar). It is very rare for a mountain to occur on its own because mountains are formed by the movement of tectonic plates. This results typically, in mountain ranges or chains (Mountians).
An example of a mountain range are the Appalachian Mountains. The mountains that we have in North Carolina are a part of this mountain range. One of the ways that mountains can be formed is by convergent boundaries as mentioned in the section about plate tectonics. The plates bump into each other and cause an uplift that results in the formation of a mountain (American geographical, Volcanoes and earthquakes). Mountains can be caused by other types of movement in the earth such as erosion (National geographic, Erosion). Mountains that are formed this way are typically not as steep as mountains that are formed by the movement of tectonic plates.
Erosion is a way that many landforms come to be and is what happens when wind, rain, and ice cause part of the earth to break away. This can change the shape of the mountains once they have already formed or it can form low mountain ranges as already mentioned (Mountains). While tectonic plate movement and erosion are two contributing factors in mountain formation it is important to remember that these are not the only ways that mountains can be formed, they can also be formed by something called volcanism. Volcanism what happens when a volcanic mountain erupts and the lava that cools changes the way that a mountain is shaped (American geographical, Volcanoes and earthquakes). An example of a mountain that is shaped by potentially dangerous volcanic activity is Mount Rainier in Washington State. While the volcanic activity is dangerous, it is not constant.