Mountain

A mountain is a large landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area usually in the form of a peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a hill. The study of mountains is called Orography.


Exogeology deals with planetary mountains, which in that branch of science are usually called montes (singular—Mons). The highest mountain on Earth based from sea level is Mount Everest (8,848 m (29,029 ft)) in the Himalayas of Asia. The highest known mountain in the Solar System is Olympus Mons on the planet Mars at 21,171 m (69,459 ft).



Classified by the geological processes that shape them, there are five major types of mountains:


Fold Mountains
Fold Mountains are the most common type of mountains. They are formed due to collision of two plates, causing folding of the Earth's crust. The fold that descends on both sides is called anticline, whereas, the fold that ascends from a common low point (on both sides) is called syncline. 


Fault-Block Mountains
As the name suggests, fault-block Mountains or Fault Mountains are formed when blocks of rock materials slide along faults in the Earth's crust. There are two types of Block Mountains, namely the lifted and tilted. Lifted mountains have two steep sides; whereas, the tilted type has one steep side and a gentle sloping side. 


Volcanic mountains
Volcanic mountains are formed due to volcanic eruptions where magma piles up on the surface of the Earth. 


Dome Mountains
Dome Mountains are formed when the hot magma rises from the mantle and uplifts the overlying sedimentary layer of the Earth's crust. In the process, the magma is not erupted, but it cools down and forms the core of the mountain. They are called Dome Mountains due to their appearance that resembles a dome shape. 


Plateau Mountains
Plateau Mountains are Pseudo Mountains that are formed because of erosion. They usually occur near folded mountain ranges. 


Some mountains are formed as a result of several of the Earth's forces. Though the there are mountains in the same range that are formed by faulting and doming. In nature, there is a continuous process of glaciations, soil erosion, and mechanical and chemical weathering, which altogether play a major role in altering the shape and characteristics of mountains.