How Are Mountains Formed?

Many people enjoy the mountains for the recreational opportunities they offer, but have you ever wondered how all those mountains were formed? Not all mountains were made by the same process; each way produces different types of rock and other characteristics.

Some mountains are considered volcanic. This type of mountain occurs mostly around the Pacific Ocean. A tectonic plate along the rim of the ocean is forced under another plate. As it sinks down, it melts and is then pushed up through the crust and erupts as a volcano. A good example of this is the Cascade Range along the western coast of the United States. Another type of volcanic mountain is called a hotspot. As a plate of Earth’s crust moves over molten material, the magma pushes to the surface through weak spots in the crust and forms into a mountain. One good example of this is the Hawaiian Islands.

Another type of mountain is a folded mountain. This occurs when two plates collide, and one rides on top of the other. The plate that goes over the other will fold and buckle and create mountains. The Rocky Mountains in the western United States are one example of this type of mountain range.

Mountains can also be formed when a plate of Earth’s crust breaks. One side rises to create mountains, and the other drops and creates a valley. This process is called fault block and can be seen in the Sierra Nevada Range in the western United States.

Mountains are also formed by erosion. When a volcano erupts, large areas of volcanic magma can be created. Water and winds wear down the material to form mountains. Sometimes, these mountains are called plateau mountains. The Catskills in New York fall into this category.

Left in their natural state, mountains provide us with valuable natural resources as well as recreation.