Question

Give an example of block mountains.

Answer 1

Hint: A natural elevation of the earth surface is broadly referred to as a mountain. Categorically, however, a mountain is a landform that rises at least 1,000 feet (300 meters) or more above its surrounding area. Based on their origin, there are three kinds of mountains— fold mountains, block mountains and volcanic mountains. Block mountains are created due to faulting caused by rifting that is when large areas are broken and displaced vertically. Rifting is motored by endogenetic forces coming from within the earth. The uplifted blocks are termed as horsts, and the lowered blocks are called graben.

Complete answer: The Great African Rift Valley (valley floor is graben), The Rhine Valley (graben) in Germany, the Vosges mountain in France, the Sierra Nevada in the USA and the Harz mountains in Germany are considered as some examples of block mountains. Further, there are two types of block mountains—tilted and lifted. Tilted block mountains have one steep side contrasted by a gentle slope on the other side while lifted block mountains have a flat top and extremely steep slopes.

Note:
-Fold mountains are formed when two or more tectonic plates are pushed together by the earth’s crust. At these colliding, compressing boundaries, rocks and debris are warped and folded into rocky outcrops, hills, mountains, and ranges.
-Volcanic mountains, as the name suggests, are formed due to volcanic activity. It starts as a simple crack in the earth called a volcanic vent and after the eruption, the lava, debris and ash settle and pile up around the vent to make it a conical shaped mountain.