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What is a mountain?

An illustration of mountains

Mountains are landforms that rise above the land around them.

Usually, they are more than 600 metres high. They have steep sides and either rounded or sharp peaks.

Many mountains are part of mountain ranges, which are groups of mountains formed around the same time.

An illustration of mountains

Watch: Explore the tallest mountains of the UK

Find out more about the tallest mountains in the UK.

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The tallest mountains

The presenter Ceren pointing to the left

Some of the highest mountains of the UK are found in Scotland. The tallest is Ben Nevis, located in the Highlands region.

The tallest mountain in each of the four UK countries are:

Ben Nevis in Scotland (1,345 metres)

Scafell Pike in England (978 metres)

Snowdon in Wales (1,085 metres)

Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland (850 metres)

The presenter Ceren pointing to the left
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Did you know?

Ben Nevis was once a large, active volcano which exploded and collapsed in on itself.

A mountain range
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How are mountains formed?

Mountains are formed by forces deep within the Earth.

in cause heat to move closer and further away from the surface.These currents carry with them.

Read more about how mountains are formed here.

See how some types of mountains are formed in the UK.

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 3, Fold mountains in the Highlands of Scotland, Fold mountains When tectonic plates collide, they create fold mountains. They are usually the tallest mountain ranges. An example of these is the Highlands in Scotland.

Volcanic mountains

Volcanic eruptions create new landforms such as volcanoes, craters and plateaus. Many of the mountains in the UK were once .

Volcanoes often form on the boundary between two tectonic plates.

  • If they push together, they can force hot molten rock, called magma, to the surface.

  • When they pull apart, they can cause to flow out over the ground.

A cross-section of a volcano
Image caption,
A cross-section of a volcano
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Glacial erosion

The Highlands of Scotland
Image caption,
U-shaped valley in the Highlands of Scotland

Mountains, like the rest of the land, are always changing. They can keep building up or they can slowly wear away from the forces of erosion.

  • can scoop out a section of a mountain, creating a . This can remain as a lake once the glacier disappears.

  • When glaciers move, they can scour the sides of the mountains, changing the 'v' river valley from a 'v' shape to a rounded 'u' shape.

The Highlands of Scotland
Image caption,
U-shaped valley in the Highlands of Scotland
Buttermere Valley, the Lake District, a u-shaped valey
Image caption,
A u-shaped valley, Buttermere Valley, the Lake District
  • Thousands of years ago, during the last ice age, most of the UK was covered by ice, so many of its landscapes have been formed by glaciers.

  • The Lake District in England is an example of these landscapes. Some of its lakes formed in deep ditches that were carved by glaciers.

Buttermere Valley, the Lake District, a u-shaped valey
Image caption,
A u-shaped valley, Buttermere Valley, the Lake District
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Activities

Quiz: Mountains

Quiz: Human land use

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