MARVELS OF MOUNTAINS

Wikipedia describes mountain as 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 and is formed through tectonic forces or volcanism that locally raises the surface of the earth.

High elevations on mountains produce colder climates than at sea level and these colder climates strongly affect the ecosystems of mountains, producing different plants and animals.

The highest mountain on Earth is Mount Everest in the Himalayas of Asia, whose summit is 8,850 m (29,035 ft) above mean sea level while the highest known mountain on any planet in the Solar System is Olympus Mons on Mars at 21,171 m (69,459 ft).

Mountains are classified according to their mode of formation. These include:

Fold Mountains: Fold Mountains are formed by large scale horizontal earth movement as a result of stress and compressional forces which causes expansion and contraction in some part of the earth. Fold Mountains are the most important and widespread type of mountains. They are soft but contain old Hard Rock, have wrinkling appearance and exist in layered form.

Block mountains: Block mountains are formed when the earth cracks due to faulting. Faulting occurs as a result of those forces that tend to pull the earth crust (tensional forces) and those forces that shorten the crust (compressional force). Block mountain are made up of hard rocks, steep sides, have flat or slightly slopy surfaces and they are associated with valley.

Residual mountains: Residual mountain are formed from already existing mountains which are reduced by agents of denudation such as running water, ice and wind. The hard and the very resistance parts of the existing mountains remaining after the lowering or reducing of the upper part is known as the residual mountain. They occur in varying height and sizes.

Mountains are of great importance and their uses abound. They are:

· Source of minerals such as tin and diamond.
· Sources of many rivers and streams.
· Useful in times of inter-tribal war for easy defence against enemies.
· Serving as tourist centres.
· Serving as wind brakes and climatic barrier.

Disadvantages of mountains include the following. They:

· Are barriers to communication,
· Hinder human habitation,
· Promote soil erosion,
· Occupy good land that could have been used for buildings.
· Take over the soil and prevent agriculture as the mountainous soil is poorer in nutrients.