Fold Mountains Case Study

Learning Objective:

To know a case study The Alps Fold Mountains- how they are used for farming, hydroelectric power, mining, tourism and how people adapt to limited communications, steep relief and poor soils.

Valley Floor

Built Up Areas

Colder Slopes

Power

Reasons why the Alps Reasons why the Alps are good for HEP:are good for HEP:

•Steep slopesSteep slopes

•High precipitationHigh precipitation

•Summer melting of Summer melting of glaciersglaciers

•Narrow valleys easy Narrow valleys easy to damto dam

•Lakes exist to store Lakes exist to store waterwater

Timber IndustryTimber Industry

Up to 1800m slopes Up to 1800m slopes covered in coniferous covered in coniferous forest.forest.

Soft wood is used for:Soft wood is used for:

•FuelFuel

•BuildingBuilding

•Making wood pulpMaking wood pulp

•Making paperMaking paper

There are many tourist attractions in the Alps:

•Skiing

•Climbing

•Walking

•Sight seeing (lots of beautiful scenery)

Good for tourism because:

•Good winter scenery

•Extensive winter sports

•Lakeside summer resorts

•Good communications, close to road and rail routes

•Near affluent parts of Europe

•Alpine climate

There are many Alpine villages that are popular with tourists.

There are activities all the time for the tourists:

•Bars

•Nightclubs

•Skiing lessons

•Cafés and restaurants

•Shopping

The valley floor is good for farming because:

•The land here is flatter

•The soils are deeper and more fertile

•Sheltered from the wind

•Better access to communications

Most farms are on the north facing slope as this is the warmest and driest, but they do keep some cattle on the south side in summer (the movement of these cattle is called transhumance).