On the Mountain Top

It is an exhilarating feeling to stand at the top of a mountain and look down. There are amazing views. You can tell by looking at a mountain which plants can grow at different heights.

The higher you go up the mountain, the colder it is. For every 820 feet you climb, the temperature drops one degree. If you look at the very top of a high mountain, there is usually no or very little vegetation there. Icy wind blows and prevents trees from growing. When mountains get higher than 8,200 feet, there is a timberline. Trees cannot grow above the timberline.

The trees along the mountainside help to protect the mountain soil. This prevents the soil from eroding. When there is too much erosion, there are problems with flooding and landslides. In the wintertime, these cleared-off areas can trigger avalanches.

It is very common to see conifer trees growing on mountains. Most conifers are called evergreens, which means they stay green all of the time. They do not lose their leaves like other trees. The leaves on evergreens are needles. When old needles fall off, they are replaced with new ones. Conifers are able to handle the harsh mountain weather.

There are also other types of trees that grow on lower portions of the mountain. You can find chestnut, oak, and maple trees there.