A mountain is a landform that rises dramatically above its surroundings, with steep slopes, a small peak area, and significant local relief. Mountains are often thought to be larger than hills. Mountains are classified into numerous types based on their height, their period of origin, and their mode of origin. This article will explain to you about the Classification of Mountains which will be helpful in Geography preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Classification of Mountains on the Basis of Height

Low Mountains

• Low mountains are mountains that range between 700 to 1000 meters.
• Mt. Chimneytop in Tennessee, US is an example of a low mountain.

Rough Mountains

• Rough mountains range between 1000 to 1500 meters.
• Mount Donna Buang, Australia is an excellent example of rough mountains.

Rugged Mountains

• Rugged mountains generally differ from 1500 to 2000 meters.
• Agastya Mala in India is an example of a rugged mountain.

High Mountains

• As the name suggests, the high mountains are generally above 2000m.
• Kanchenjunga is a typical high mountain located in India.

Classification of Mountains on the Basis of Location

Coastal Mountains

• Things that are in the sea or on land near a coast are referred to as coastal.
• Coastal mountains, as the name implies, are those that are located near a coastline.
• The Rockies, the Appalachians, the Alpine mountain systems, the Western Ghats, and the Eastern Ghats (India) are some examples.

Inland Mountains

• Inland Mountains are the ones that are situated in a landlocked position.
• The majority of the mountains we encounter are Inland Mountains.
• Examples include Europe's Vosges and the Black Forest, Asia's Kunlun, Tienshan, Altai ranges, and Russia's Urals.
• Some inland mountains in India include Aravallis, Himalayas, and Satpura.

Oceanic Mountains

• The mountains located on continental shelves and ocean floors are known as oceanic mountains.
• Mauna Kea (9140 m) would be the highest peak if measured from the ocean floor. It's a dormant volcano in Hawaii's volcanic chain.

Classification of Mountains on the Basis of Mode of Origin

Original/ Tectonic Mountains

• These mountains are formed due to large-scale movements in the tectonic plates and the resulting collision and folding of plates.
• These mountains are further classified into Block mountains, Fold Mountains, Dome Mountains, Mountains of Accumulations and Circum-erosional/ Relict Mountains.

Fold Mountains

• Fold mountains are formed due to large-scale collision of tectonic plates which results in subduction and folding.
• Himalaya, Rockies, Andes, Balkan Mountains, Jura, Zagros mountains are some examples.
• The majority of fold mountains are made up of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks that originated under high pressure and at low temperatures.
• When an underlying layer of ductile minerals, such as salt, is present, many fold mountains occur.
• The Himalayas, Andes, and Alps are among the well-known fold mountains.

Block Mountains

• Block Mountains are formed when a fault block is raised or tilted.
• Higher blocks are called horsts and troughs are called grabens
• Examples include Vindhya Range, Satpura Range, Sierra Nevada Range, Rhila Rhodope mountain range, etc.

Dome Mountains

• Dome Mountains are formed when the hot molten material (magma) rising from the Earth's mantle into the crust forces the top sedimentary rock layers upward.
• Thus they form a "dome" shaped structure.
• Unlike a volcano, magma here rarely reaches the surface of the Earth.

Mountains of Accumulations (Volcanic Mountains)

• Volcanic Mountains, also known as Mountains of Accumulations, are generated by the buildup of volcanic debris.
• The volcanic debris is thrown out and then lands in a mountain-like shape surrounding the crater.
• If the lava is thin and basic in composition, it spreads across a large area, generating a flatter cone with a lower elevation and a softer slope.
• A small volcanic cone sharply sticking out is the consequence if it is thick and acidic composition.
• Lava, ash, and cinders are sometimes flung out with the lava. Ash and cinder cones are two types of volcanic cones.
• Examples: Mount Mauna Loa in Hawaii Island, Mount Popa in Myanmar, FujiYama in Japan, etc are some examples.

Circum-erosional/ Relict/ Residual Mountains​

• These are the remains of historic fold mountains that have been exposed due to denudation (strip of covering).
• Residual mountains can also form from plateaus that have been carved into hills and valleys by rivers.
• Hills such as the Nilgiri, Palkonda, Parasnath, and Rajmahal, as well as mountains such as the Aravalli, Vindhya, and Satpura, are examples of relict mountains in India.

Classification of Mountains on the Basis of Period of Origin

• There have been a total of nine orogenic (mountain-building) movements taken place so far.
• Some of them happened between 600 and 3,500 million years ago, during the Precambrian period.
• The Caledonian, Hercynian, and Alpine orogenies are the three most recent orogenies.

Pre-Cambrian Mountains

• These mountains date back to the Precambrian period, which lasted more than 4 billion years.
• The rocks have been upheaved, denuded, and metamorphosed.
• As a result, the remnants look like residual mountains.
• Laurentian mountains, Algoman mountains are a few examples among them.

Caledonian Mountains

• Caledonian Mountains developed as a result of the late Silurian and early Devonian periods' massive mountain-building processes and accompanying tectonic movements (approximately 430 million years and 380 million years ago).
• The Appalachians, Aravallis, Mahadeo, and other mountain ranges are examples.

Hercynian Mountains

• These mountains first appeared in Europe from the Carboniferous to the Permian periods (approximately 340 million years and 225 million years ago).
• The Vosges and Black Forest mountains, Altai, Asia's Tien Shan Mountains, and the Ural Mountains are only a few examples.

Alpine Mountains

• The Alps are Europe's highest and largest mountain range system, ranging over 1,200 kilometers across eight Alpine countries: France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia.
• Tens of millions of years ago, the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided, forming these mountains.
• This event induced extreme shortening, which resulted in marine sedimentary materials thrusting and folding into high mountain peaks like Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn.

Significance of Mountains

• Mountains have an important role in supplying renewable energy to downstream cities and remote mountain communities, particularly through hydropower, solar electricity, wind power, and biogas.
• Mountains are known as natural "water towers" because they serve as crucial headwaters for many rivers and other sources of freshwater.
• This freshwater comes from melting snow, which creates streamflow that eventually ends up in streams, rivers, lakes, and seas. This meltwater can also be used to rehydrate aquifers.
• They help in preventing the speed of the wind.
• Air and clouds in the air are pushed up the mountain slopes by the wind.
• Warm, moist air masses moving up and over a mountain swell as the air pressure holding them in expands.
• Mountain destinations draw tourists for a variety of reasons, including the climate, clean air, unique landscapes and fauna, visual beauty, local culture, history, and heritage, and the chance to experience snow and participate in snow-based or nature-related activities and sports.

Conclusion

Mountains, in general, make up one-fifth of the world's landscape and provide homes to at least one-tenth of the world's people. Mountain ranges account for 26.5 percent of the world's total continental land area. Mountains are particularly valuable in terms of biodiversity, water, clean air, research, cultural variety, recreation, landscape, and spiritual values.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which of the following is an example of fold mountains?

A) Himalayas
B) Sierra Nevada
C) Mount St. Helens
D) Andes

2. Fault-block mountains are primarily formed due to:

A) Erosion
B) Volcanic activity
C) Tectonic forces
D) Weathering

3. Which of the following best describes volcanic mountains?

A) Formed by folding
B) Created from volcanic eruptions
C) Result of erosion
D) Formed through sedimentation

4. Which mountain range is an example of a fault-block mountain?

A) Rocky Mountains
B) Appalachian Mountains
C) Ural Mountains
D) Andes

5. What effect do mountains have on climate?

A) They always increase rainfall
B) They have no impact on climate
C) They can create rain shadow areas
D) They decrease biodiversity

GS Mains Questions and Answers

Q1: Examine the role of mountains in influencing human settlement patterns.

Answer: Mountains significantly influence human settlement patterns due to their geographical, climatic, and resource-related factors. Settlements in mountainous regions often adapt to the terrain, leading to unique cultural and economic practices. Access to natural resources, such as forests, minerals, and water, can drive human habitation in these areas. However, the rugged terrain and harsh climates can also limit agriculture and infrastructure development, leading to lower population densities compared to plains. Moreover, mountains often act as barriers, affecting trade routes and communication. The distinctive environmental conditions also create unique ecosystems that support specific livelihoods, such as tourism, which can provide alternative economic opportunities for local communities. Overall, mountains shape human settlements by offering both challenges and resources, influencing migration patterns, and fostering distinct cultural identities.

Q2: Discuss the environmental challenges faced by mountain ecosystems and their implications.

Answer: Mountain ecosystems face various environmental challenges, including climate change, deforestation, and habitat loss. Climate change is particularly pronounced in mountainous regions, leading to glacial retreat, altered precipitation patterns, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters such as landslides and avalanches. These changes threaten biodiversity, as many species are endemic to these fragile environments. Deforestation, driven by logging and agricultural expansion, exacerbates soil erosion, disrupts water cycles, and diminishes the ecosystem services that mountains provide. Furthermore, tourism, if not managed sustainably, can lead to habitat degradation and pollution. The implications of these challenges are profound, affecting local communities that depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods, as well as broader ecological stability. Addressing these challenges requires integrated conservation strategies, sustainable development practices, and robust policies that balance ecological preservation with human needs.

Q3: Analyze the impact of mountains on regional climate and weather patterns.

Answer: Mountains have a significant impact on regional climate and weather patterns due to their ability to influence air movement and precipitation. As air masses encounter mountains, they are forced to ascend, leading to cooling and condensation, which often results in orographic rainfall on the windward side. This phenomenon can create lush, fertile regions in otherwise arid landscapes. Conversely, the leeward side often experiences a rain shadow effect, where dry air descends, leading to reduced precipitation and drier conditions. This differential rainfall distribution can shape ecosystems, agriculture, and water resources in surrounding areas. Additionally, mountains can affect local temperature variations, leading to microclimates that support diverse flora and fauna. Understanding these impacts is crucial for managing water resources, agricultural practices, and biodiversity conservation in mountainous regions, highlighting the interconnectedness of topography and climate.

Previous Year Questions on Classification of Mountains

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021:

Question: Which of the following types of mountains is formed primarily by tectonic forces?

Answer: The question pertains to fold mountains, which are formed primarily by tectonic forces acting upon the Earth's crust, causing it to fold and rise. Examples include the Himalayas and the Andes, showcasing the dynamic nature of Earth's geological processes.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2020 (GS Paper 1):

Question: Discuss the significance of mountain ranges in regulating the global climate.

Answer: Mountain ranges play a critical role in regulating the global climate by influencing atmospheric circulation and precipitation patterns. They act as barriers to wind currents, leading to variations in temperature and humidity. The presence of large mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas, impacts the monsoon systems in Asia, affecting millions of people. Furthermore, mountains host unique ecosystems and biodiversity that are sensitive to climate change, highlighting their importance in environmental conservation efforts.