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What is the minimum elevation for a landform to be classified as a mountain?
The Andes Mountain range was formed primarily by the collision of oceanic plates with continental plates.
True
What is the tallest mountain in the world?
Mount Everest
The _____ mountains are formed when tectonic plates push into each other.
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Match the following types of mountains with their respective descriptions:
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What happens to rain that falls along the Great Dividing Range?
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Mount Kosciuszko is the highest point on any continent.
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What environmental processes have affected the height of the Australian Alps?
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The Great Dividing Range is also known as the ________ Highlands.
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Match the following terms with their definitions:
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Study Notes
Mountain Landscapes
- Mountains rise significantly above surrounding land, classified as landforms above 300 metres.
- Mountains less than 300 metres are usually termed hills.
- A mountain range consists of a series of closely situated mountains.
Formation of Mountains
- Mountains are shaped by tectonic plates through various processes.
- Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, is part of the Himalayas, which has an elevation of 8,849 metres and is classified as fold mountains.
- Fold mountains are formed when tectonic plates collide, causing the Earth’s surface to buckle.
Tectonic Processes
- Thinner oceanic plates can slide beneath continental plates, contributing to mountain formation and volcanic activity.
- The Andes Mountain range is an example of mountains formed by tectonic activity.
- Block mountains and rift valleys arise from repeated tectonic movements creating faults in the Earth’s crust.
Examples of Mountains
- The Sierra Nevada Ranges in the U.S. showcase block mountains formed through tectonic activity.
- Volcanic mountains, like Mount Fuji in Japan, form at plate boundaries where magma rises and solidifies.
Australian Mountain Ranges
- Australia's Great Dividing Range is the longest land-based mountain chain, extending approximately 3,500 kilometres along the eastern coast.
- The Great Dividing Range separates two watersheds: one flowing to the Pacific Ocean and the other to inland Australia.
Australian Alps
- The Australian Alps, part of the Great Dividing Range, contain Mount Kosciuszko, the highest point on the Australian continent, although not very tall compared to other global mountain ranges.
- This range has a long geological history, being older than many other mountain ranges and shaped differently.
Geological History
- The Great Dividing Range was formed from the breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana about 130 million years ago.
- It underwent rifting, leading to the creation of valleys and eventual uplift, forming the current landscape through weathering and erosion.
Erosion and Weathering
- Weathering involves the breakdown of rocks through factors like temperature extremes, ice, and biological activity.
- Erosion is the transport of these broken materials by natural forces such as water, wind, and gravity.
- Deposition occurs when eroded materials settle in new locations.
Landforms in the Australian Alps
- The landscape includes various features like steep mountain faces, less steep slopes, ridges, and passes between mountains.
- Mount Kosciuszko represents the highest peak on mainland Australia, while the range's geology is characterized by escarpments and floodplains near the coast.
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of mountain landscapes and their classifications in this quiz. Learn about how geologists define mountains, the significance of height, and the role of tectonic plates in shaping these natural wonders. Test your knowledge on mountain ranges and their characteristics.
