How are mountains formed?

 

When a layer of the Earths crust is shoved,  mountains are formed bringing with them a beautiful environment for animals and plants. However , this is not a short process, taking millions of years. For example, the Himalayas are over 15 million years old and they are classed as a young mountain range. With four different types of mountains, which vary in sizes, the fold mountains are most common. All the other types are block, dome, and volcanic. Not many people know, but volcanoes are actually a type of mountain too.

Dome mountains

Dome mountains, which are formed when magma ( liquid rock ) from the Earths core pushes up until it starts to mood the Earths crust into a dome shape. Hence the name. Unlike volcanoes, in a dome mountain the magma stays under the Earths crust ( a layer of rocks around the world.)

Fold mountains

Fold mountains, which are the most common type of mountains, are caused when a layer of sediment ( a layer of rocks and minerals ) gradually move and fold over each other to form a mountain range. The Himalayas, being a great example, have the biggest mountain on Earth in it ( Mount Everest.)

 

A brilliant information page on mountains and how they are formed. Great use of subheadings and pictures.