One mountain - this is great, but even better if a lot of mountains.Especially pleasing to the eye, when they are combined into a long ridge which peaks alternate with valleys, with small spurs, and everything is diluted babbling rivers.Such beauty, stretching for thousands of kilometers, will not leave anyone indifferent.The emergence of mountain ranges explains the theory of the formation of relief.It says the ridge valleys, hills and mountains are formed as a result of the collision of continental plates, crawling on top of each other.It is hard to imagine the forces that are necessary for this process.And it is not necessary.It is better to enjoy the result of their activities.Especially if it is the longest mountain in the world.Let's make their rating and find the location.
Cordillera
To begin with I want to clarify one important point.Many people confuse these with the Andes mountains, but they are two completely different circuit, formed at different times.Some call the Andes "Andean Cordillera", but they do not have these mountains irrelevant.It is also confusion arises about their location.Cordillera "hug" North America from the south and west, creating a dense climatic barrier.For South America, the same role played by the Andes.Interestingly, almost mountain data converge at the junction 2 Americas.Therefore, they are often combined into a single mountain range, which is fundamentally wrong.It would be correct not to confuse these giants and leave the Cordillera of North America, and the Andes - South.
So Cordillera - it is the longest mountain in the world, just over a length of 18,000 kilometers.They differ from their "colleagues" a number of features.Cordillera extended exclusively submeridional direction, have a high percentage of high mountains, formed in orotektonicheskih five zones of different ages have active volcanism and high seismicity.
Sea Mountain
Not everyone knows that the mountains may be not only on land but also underwater.Unfortunately, most of them hidden from hikers.Yes, and they are a little interesting, because in these mountains are not skiing.Well, the conquest of tops will look quite ridiculous.But underwater chain is not inferior to the amount of overhead.The height of the underwater giants is difficult to determine, but the length of the measure difficult.
So the second place in the ranking "The longest mountain in the world" at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with a total length of 18,000 kilometers.It is located in the center of the Atlantic Ocean, along the contour of the American coast.This education includes several ranges: Knipovich, Mona, Reykjanes, the South and the North Atlantic.Some peaks are transformed into islands (the Azores, Bermuda, and so on. D.).Among the above ranges is not particularly high, old or young, it's just the longest mountain on earth after the Cordilleras, that too much.Go ahead.
Andes Andes - this is the third longest mountain in the world, with a total length of 9,000 kilometers.His broad front aimed Andes to the Pacific, and the north come to the Caribbean.The eastern part of the border leads to the Andean ranges.By the way, different age ranges located throughout the length of the mountain range.Orogenic movements continued, and now, accompanied by earthquakes and volcanic processes.
For typical Andean highland terrain, determining a significant high-altitude zone and the formation of significant glaciation.The enormous length of the mountain system determines the difference in moisture and heat supply of its individual parts.Despite the fact that the subcontinent has a mountainous character, its territory has long been densely populated.Andean peoples have mastered the high plains, intermountain valleys and basins within the mountain system and adapt to living in such conditions.The Andes are the most mountainous villages, towns and farmland.Within the mountains there are six physiographic units.But in this article we will describe only two: the Central Andes and Tierra del Fuego.
Central Andes
The biggest part of the mountain range.In its mountain ranges located within Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru.For orotektonicheskoy structure is characterized by high mountain plateaus and plateaus - "Pun" (or "Altiplano" in Bolivia).Hard median massif, which were formed within these plains, divided into several blocks.This is clearly seen through cracks which have appeared due to the rise of magma and lava flows.As a result, there is a combination of plains in the lowland terrain, areas peneplain and lava plateaus.As for the climate, in the Central Andes is quite dry.
Tierra del Fuego Archipelago
includes several dozens of islands of various sizes.The largest of them, occupying two thirds of the total land area - about.Tierra del Fuego.Islands belong to Argentina and Chile.The western part of Tierra del Fuego continues Andes mountain system and strongly dissected.Mountain ranges (1000-1300 meters) divided by intermountain valleys, and some are filled with water oceans - straits, fjords.The highest point (2469 meters) is located on the Big Island.Mostly ancient glacial relief.A lot of lakes dammed by moraines.
a large area of the archipelago has a temperate maritime climate.In the western part throughout the year falls abundant precipitation (drizzle) up to 3000 mm.In the east, rainfall less - up to 500 mm.The summer is cool and winter is relatively warm (1-5 ° C).Visited in Tierra del Fuego, tourists say that the summer there, as in the tundra and winters like the subtropics (for temperatures).With the rise in the mountains the temperature drops sharply and already at the level of 500 meters up to a negative value.
Transantarctic Mountains
In Antarctica, there is not only ice, snow and penguins, but also the mountain.And quite long.All Antarctica crosses a huge ridge dividing it into East and West.This ice giant, which occupies the last place in the ranking "The longest mountain in the world," stretched 3,500 kilometers.The ridge was discovered back in 1908 by Captain Ross.In subsequent years, he was repeatedly crossed the research expedition, but most still remains unexplored.Fortunately, now there is a satellite survey, which allows, if not to touch the ridge, then at least look at it.
