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MOUNTAIN WORDS
Here we learn all the vocabulary associated with the geography topic of mountains. Complete with definitions and illustrations to help your understanding grow further. This list of mountain words is comprehensive and comes with a full list of mountain synonyms so if you want to know the difference between a plateau and a ridge, read on to find out more.
Mountain synonyms
crag, foothill, elevation, massif, highland, alp, peak, mount, height, eminence, prominence, summit, pinnacle, mountaintop, horn, range, sierra, cordillera, ridge, fell, ben, Munro, berg, jebel, inselberg
Mountain words
Alps
Altitude
Andes
Ascent
Avalanche
Base
Ben Nevis
Large mountain
range in Europe,
stretching through
Switzerland.
Height measured
above sea level.
Longest mountain
range in the world,
in South America.
The act of going up
a mountain.
A large mass of snow
and ice, detached
from the mountain slope and heading downhill in a sudden movement.
The lower part or bottom part of a mountain.
Tallest mountain in the UK.
Ben Nevis - tallest mountain in the UK.
Coniferous
Dome mountain
Elevation
Erosion
Fault block mountain
Fold mountain
glaciers
gorge
A type of tree that can grow in the lower temperatures found on the upper slopes of mountains.
Dome mountains are formed where a region of flat-lying sedimentary rocks is bent upward making a structural dome.
Height above a given level, often sea level. Also known as altitude.
The process by which soil and rock is removed from one area of the Earth through natural causes such as wind, water, and ice and transported elsewhere is called erosion.
A mountain formed
by natural faults in
the earth’s crust
Mountains that form
mainly by the effects
of layers of the earth’s
crust folding on top of
each other as they are
pushed together.
A slow moving mass of ice.
A narrow valley between hills or mountains, typically with steep rocky walls and a stream running through it.
Hair pin bend
hill
Himalayas
A hairpin bend is a very tight corner. It makes a vehicle turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Known as switchbacks in American English.
A naturally raised area of land, not as high or craggy as a mountain.
Highest mountain range in the world, formed as India’s tectonic plate collides with the Eurasian tectonic plate.
Igneous
Landscape
Metamorphic
Rock that solidifies from molten
earth material is called igneous
rock. It is one of the three main
types of rock.
All the visible features of an area
of land, often considered in terms
of their aesthetic appeal.
Rock that has changed in
composition or structure in response
to changing environmental
conditions is called metamorphic rock. The name metamorphic comes from Greek words meaning “change of form.” Such a transformation usually results from great temperatures, pressures, or mechanical stress.
Mount Everest
Mountain
Tallest mountain in the world.
A mountain is a landform that rises prominently above its surroundings. It is generally distinguished by steep slopes, a relatively confined summit, and considerable height.
Mountain range
Mountaineer
peak
plateau
A series of more or less connected mountains ranged in a line.
A climber of mountains,
especially for sport.
The pointed top of a
mountain or ridge.
A land area having a relatively level surface considerably raised aboveadjoining land on at least one side
Rockies
Sedimentary
Sherpa
The chief mountain system in North America extending from central Mexico to North Alaska.
Sedimentary rocks are formed by the accumulation of sediments.
A member of a people of Tibetan stock living in the Nepalese Himalayas, who often serve as porters on mountain-climbing expeditions.
slope
Summit
Tectonic plates
Treeline
U-shaped valley
Valley
Volcano
Ground that has a natural incline, as the side of a hill.
The highest part of a hill.
The dozen or so plates that make up the surface of the Earth. Their motion is studied in the field of plate tectonics.
The altitude above sea level at which trees cease to grow.
A steep sided valley caused by glacial erosion.
An elongated depression between hills or mountains, often formed by a stream.
A mountain or hill with a vent at the top through which molten rock has erupted.
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