What Are Mountains?

By:

Shaquille Nickerson

Dedication Page

I dedicate this book to my brother, Dimarcus, who loves science.

A mountain is a landform that extends above the surrounding land in a limited area. A mountain is usually higher and steeper than a hill. Some authorities define a mountain as a peak with a topographic prominence over a defined value: for example, the Encyclopædia Britannica requires a prominence of 610 m (2,000 ft).

When a plate has other plates pressing in on it from either side, it may crumple in the middle. This crumpling creates fold mountains.

The Great Smoky Mountains are a major mountain range in the southern part of the Appalachian Mountains chain. It is also called the Smoky Mountains or the Smokies. They are located between Tennessee and North Carolina. They form entirely west of the Eastern Continental Divide.

Acknowledgements

• I want to thank my science teacher, Mrs. Garrett.