World's largest mountain ranges
Learning about the largest mountain ranges in the world is essential for all those who love mountain sports. In this way they will be able to get to know the places around the world that offer the greatest potential for the practice of their favourite sporting activities.
What is a mountain range?
The mountain ranges mountain ranges or cordilleras are long successions of mountains that are linked together, and are often established as geographical boundaries between countries. They originate in areas where the ground has been transformed by the movement of tectonic plates, causing sediments to be compressed, rising above the earth's surface and giving rise to various mountain ranges.
The process of mountain range formation
A mountain range is formed by the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates which collide with each other, fold and deform until they protrude above the earth's crust. Sediments lying on the surface are affected by external phenomena such as high temperatures, soil erosion by wind and water erosion, among others.
Another way in which mountains are generated is through the underwater elevations, due to plate movement or underwater volcanic eruptions. This is the case with the island of Hawaii and all the surrounding islands. They form a mountain system beneath the ocean whose peaks are shown above sea level, forming a group of islands.
The highest mountain in the world that has been detected is Mauna Kea in Hawaii. It is a dormant volcano, submerged in the Pacific Ocean. From base to summit it measures 10,203 metres, but the part that can be seen above sea level is 4,205 metres. The highest mountain at sea level is Everest at 8,850 metres above sea level.
World's largest mountain ranges
Mountain ranges generally contain high altitude peaks. The altitude of their sediments can reach different shapes and sizes, including mountains, mountain ranges, hills, hills and ridges. The following is a list of the largest mountain ranges in the world.
Andes Mountains, South America
The Andes mountain range is a mountain range in South America. It is the longest mountain range in the world with an extension of 7,000 kilometres and is the second highest after the Himalayas with an average altitude of 4,000 metres. It runs parallel to the Pacific coast in South America, running from Venezuela through Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Argentina. Its highest point is Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, at 6,962 metres.
Important cities and capitals such as Bogotá, Quito, Sucre, La Paz, Arequipa and Medellín have been established throughout the altiplano. It is located in an area of high volcanic and seismic activity. This mountain range was formed during the Mesozoic period.
Rocky Mountains, North America
The Rocky Mountains or Rocky Mountains is a mountain range found in western North America. They extend across much of the United States (Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado) and Canada (Alberta and British Columbia). The approximate length of this mountain range is 4,830 km and its highest point is Mount Elbert in Colorado at 4,401 metres.
The mountain range contains important glaciers, such as Dinwoody and Gooseneck, which are shrinking faster and faster, mainly due to global warming.
Himalayan Mountains, Asia
The Himalayan mountain range, located in Asia, is the most important highest mountain range in the world. Among its many mountains, Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth at 8,850 metres above sea level, is an icon for all mountaineers around the world, mainly due to the great challenge involved in climbing it.
The Himalayan range originated about 55 million years ago. The total length is 2,300 kilometres and runs from northern Pakistan to the state of Arunachal Pradesh (India), bordering on the Tibet region for the entire length of its route.
In the Himalayas originate the three river systems The most prominent rivers in Asia are the Indus, the Ganges and the Yangtze. These rivers are important in controlling the world's climate, especially in the central areas of the Indian continent. The Himalayas contain several glaciers such as Siachen (the world's largest in the polar regions), Gangotri and Yamunotri.
The Neovolcanic mountain range, Mexico
This is a mountain range made up of active and inactive volcanoes which crosses central Mexico from Cape Corrientes on the west coast to Jalapa and Veracruz on the east coast. Its highest peaks are Orizaba (5,610 metres), Popocatepetl (5,465 metres), Iztaccihuatl (5,230 metres) and Colima (4,100 metres). The vast majority of its valleys and basins can be used for agriculture and its metal-rich soil contains silver, lead, zinc, copper and tin.
The Alpine mountain range, Europe
The Alps constitute the largest mountain system in Central Europe, forming a 1,200-kilometre-long mountain arc stretching from eastern France through Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Austria.
Several peaks in this mountain range are over 3,500 metres high and contain more than 1,000 glaciers. Throughout history, many Christian monasteries have settled among the mountains of the Alps, especially in search of peace and quiet.
The Pyrenees, Spain and France
The Pyrenees chain is a mountain system which crosses from east to west between Spain and France, from Cape Creus in the Mediterranean Sea to the Cantabrian Mountains, with a total length of 430 kilometres. Its highest peaks are located in the central part of the range and are over 3,000 metres high, such as Aneto (3,404 metres), Posets (3,375 metres), Monte Perdido (3,355 metres) and Pico Maldito (3,350). At present, it contains several small glaciers located above 2,700 metres above sea level.
The Cantabrian Mountains, Spain
It is a mountain range which is located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, parallel to the Caspian Sea and runs through Galicia, the Hapsburgs, Castile, Leon, Cantabria and the Basque Country. It is 480 kilometres long. Its highest peaks are Torre Cerredo (2,650 metres), Torre del Llambrión (2,642 metres) and Torre del Tiro Tirso (2,640 metres). It has caves that form part of what is known as the Trave cave system, whose cavities can reach a depth of 1,440 metres.
Appalachian Mountains, North America
The Appalachian Mountains are a mountain range located towards the east of North America. The Appalachians form a natural barrier between the western lowlands and the eastern coastal plains, and were home to many peoples before settlement. Today, major towns such as Pittsburgh, Knoxville and Chattanooga can be found nearby.
Caucasus Mountains, Europe and Asia
The Caucasus mountain range is considered to be the continental divide between Asia and Europe in the southeast of the latter, and one of the highest elevation mountain ranges in Europe, with several peaks exceeding 4,000 metres in altitude.
The mountain range is located in the Caucasus region, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, in a vast area distinguished by linguistic and cultural diversity.
Six countries contain part of the range on their territory: Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Russia, plus the autonomous republics of Chechnya, Dagestan, Ayaria, Adygeya, Ingushetia, Kabardia-Balkaria, Karachayev-Cherkessia, Nakhichevan and North Ossetia-Alania. The southern slopes of the mountains are dominated by Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, whose ethnic and linguistic origins vary widely.
Carpathian Mountains. Europe
Its mountains are not so high, but the chain of the Carpathian Mountains is one of the longest in Europe and is deeply linked to the history and culture of many of the peoples of the eastern part of the continent.
The Carpathian Mountains are part of a geologically young mountain range that stretches in a kind of arc across central, eastern and southern Europe, almost reaching the Alpine range. As it passes through Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania and Serbia, it forms valleys and flatlands that are home to thousands of species and approximately 18 million people.
Ural Mountains, Asia and Europe
The Ural Mountains are considered the natural border between Europe and Asia, They form a mountain range of great historical and economic importance. Located mainly in west-central Russia, it is one of the oldest geologically ancient mountain ranges and an essential source of Russia's mineral resources.
The Ural Mountains are approximately 2,500 kilometres long and 150 kilometres wide in some sections. It stretches from the Arctic coastal tundra to the Ural River and northwest Kazakhstan, north of the Caspian Sea. From north to south it is geographically divided into the Polar Urals, the Subpolar Urals, the Northern Urals, the Central Urals and the Southern Urals.
Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica
The Transantarctic Mountains are located in Antarctica and divide West Antarctica from East Antarctica. Its total length is 3,542 km and its highest point is Mount Kirkpatrick. The Pensacola Mountains are located in this range.
Great Dividing Range, Australia
The Great Dividing Range is the mountain range of greatest significance in Australia. It stretches for more than 3,500 km, from Queensland in the far northeast, along the entire east coast to the southern tip of the continent, where it ends at the Grampian Mountains in the state of Victoria.
These mountains are known as the Australian Alps and their highest point is Mount Kosciuszko at 2,228 metres.
Kunlun, Asia
The chain of Kunlun Mountains is one of the longest and widest in Asia. It stretches across the entire western fringe of China. It is 3,000 kilometres long and its highest mountain is Kongur at 7,719 metres above sea level.
Tian Shan, Asia
The Tian Mountains, also known as the Tian Shan or simply as Tien, is a mountain system located in Central Asia, specifically in the border areas between Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and China.
The mountain range The Tian Shan covers a length of 2,800 kilometres and the highest point of the range is the Jengish Chokusu Peak in Kyrgyzstan with an elevation of 7,439 metres.
Arctic mountain range, Canada
The Arctic mountain range, also known as the Arctic Rockies thanks to its location close to the Arctic Ocean, this mountain system is located on the north coast of Canada. The chain is 2,700 kilometres long and its highest point of elevation is Barbeau Peak at 2,616 metres, located on Ellesmere Island.
Altai Massif, Central Asia
This mountain range is also known as the Golden Mountains of Altai, stretches for 2,500 km and passes through Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan. Its highest point is Mount Gora Belusha in Russia at 4,500m. The mountain range ends in the Gobi Desert.
The Ghats of India
The Eastern Ghats run parallel to the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Peninsula for a stretch of 1,500 km in length. The Western Ghats extend for about 100 km on the Deccon plateau that separates them from the Arabian Sea.
The Java and Sumatra Mountains, Indonesia
Sumatra and Java are islands in Indonesia. The mountain range The highest point is Puncak Jaya Peak at 4,800 m. The highest point is Puncak Jaya Peak at 4800m.
Brazil's Atlantic mountain range
The largest area of this mountain range is the Espinhaso Mountains with a length of 1,000 km. Pico do Itambé reaches an elevation of 2,000 metres.
Conclusion
Through this list with the largest mountain ranges in the world, You have learned which are the main exponents of these important geographical formations in the world. In addition, you have learned what mountain ranges are and how they are formed.
