fold mountains

Fold Mountains Fold mountains are the most common type of mountains. Fold mountains are formed when two tectonic plates collide head on and their edges rise, much like the way a sheet of paper rises up when its edges are pushed towards each other. Sometimes, the land is also pressed downwards. The upward folds are called anticlines; anticlines form the sides of peaks.

The downward folds are called synclines; synclines may form valleys. As the edges of the plates press against each other, the rock will often shatter and crumble.

A mountain is a peak that rises above the surrounding terrain.

Fold Mountains

The Himalayas are an example of fold mountains. The Himalayas formed when the Indian Plate crashed into the Eurasian Plate. In fact, the Himalayas are still being formed: The Indian Plate is being forced underneath the Eurasian Plate and Mount Everest in the Himalayas continues to rise by about a millimetre a year.

Fold Mountains

The Alps are another example of a fold mountain range. They were formed when the African Plate crashed into the Eurasian Plate. Again, this process is still happening. Eventually, the Alps will rise to the height of the Himalayas and the Mediterranean Sea will disappear.

Fold Mountains

The Appalachians in North America are an example of very old fold mountains. They formed when the African Plate crashed into the North American Plate around a billion years ago.

Hundreds of millions of years later, the two plates were ripped apart as ocean floor spreading began to form the Atlantic Ocean.

Fold Mountains