Interesting Facts about Mountains

A mountains is a large natural rise of the Earth’s surface that typically has a summit (a point or peak) and which is higher than the surrounding terrain.

Mountain ranges are long chains or groups of mountains. Most mountains are formed through tectonic forces or volcanism. These forces can locally raise the surface of the earth by over 10 kilometers (6 miles). Mountain ranges are found on every continent and include some of the world’s highest peaks, such as Mount Everest and K2.

There are an estimated 109 mountain peaks on Earth that exceed 7,200 meters (23,622 feet) in height above sea level. The vast majority of these mountains are located in Asia.

Did you know that…?

• The highest mountain peak in the solar system is Olympus Mons on Mars? It measures a whopping 22 kilometers (13.6 miles) high!
• There are mountains on every continent?
• Mountain ranges can be found on every continent and include some of the world’s highest peaks, such as Mount Everest and K2?
• The average depth of the ocean is 3,790 meters (12,430 feet), which is about the height of Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States?
• Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, measuring 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) high?
• There are an estimated 109 mountain peaks on Earth that exceed 7,200 meters (23,622 feet) in height above sea level?
• The vast majority of these mountains are located in Asia?
• Mountains cover approximately one-fifth of the world’s land surface?
• There are an estimated 300,000 glaciers around the world, with 85% of them found in Antarctica and Greenland?
• Approximately one quarter of the world’s population lives in mountain regions?
• The Andes mountain range is the longest mountain range in the world, stretching for 7,000 kilometers (4,300 miles) through seven South American countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina?
• Mountain ranges can be found on every continent and include some of the world’s highest peaks, such as Mount Everest and K2?
• The average depth of the ocean is 3,790 meters (12,430 feet), which is about the height of Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States?
• Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, measuring 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) high?
• There are an estimated 109 mountain peaks on Earth that exceed 7,200 meters (23,622 feet) in height above sea level?
• The vast majority of these mountains are located in Asia?
• Mountains cover approximately one-fifth of the world’s land surface?
• There are an estimated 300,000 glaciers around the world, with 85% of them found in Antarctica and Greenland?
• Approximately one quarter of the world’s population lives in mountain regions?
• The Andes mountain range is the longest mountain range in the world, stretching for 7,000 kilometers (4,300 miles) through seven South American countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina?
• Mt. Everest is the highest mountain peak in the world, measuring 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) high?
• There are 14 mountains on Earth that are taller than 8,000 meters (26,247 feet), all of which are located in Asia?
• There are an estimated 1,500 active volcanoes around the world, with about 50 to 60 erupting each year?
• The largest volcano in the solar system is Olympus Mons on Mars? It measures a whopping 22 kilometers (13.6 miles) high!
• Mauna Loa on Hawaii is the world’s largest active volcano, measuring 10,023 meters (33,100 feet) high and 556 kilometers (345 miles) wide?
• The deepest hole ever drilled by humans is the Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia, which reached a depth of 12,262 meters (40,230 feet)?
• The highest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela, which plunges a staggering 979 meters (3,212 feet) over the edge of a table-top mountain.
• The longest river in the world is the Nile, which stretches for 6,853 kilometers (4,258 miles) through 11 countries in Africa: Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt?
• The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest place on Earth? It has an annual rainfall of just 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters (0.02 to 0.06 inches), and some parts have not received any rain at all for centuries!

Conclusion:

There are many interesting facts about mountains, some of which may surprise you. For example, did you know that the tallest mountain in the world is not Mount Everest, but actually Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania? Or that there are an estimated 300,000 glaciers around the world, with 85% of them found in Antarctica and Greenland?