Famous mountains of Russia and their height. The lowest mountains. Photo

Mountains occupy about 24% of all land. Most mountains in Asia - 64%, least of all in Africa - 3%. 10% of the population lives in the mountains the globe. And it is in the mountains that most of the rivers on our planet originate.

Characteristics of the mountains

By geographic location mountains unite in different communities, which should be distinguished.

. mountain belts- the largest formations, often stretching across several continents. For example, the Alpine-Himalayan belt runs through Europe and Asia, or the Andean-Cordillera, stretching through North and South America.
. mountain system - groups of mountains and ranges, similar in structure and age. For example, the Ural Mountains.

. mountain ranges- a group of mountains, elongated in a line (Sangre de Cristo in the USA).

. mountain groups- also a group of mountains, but not elongated in a line, but simply located nearby. For example, the Ber-Po Mountains in Montana.

. Solitary mountains- not related to others, often have volcanic origin(Table Mountain in South Africa).

Natural areas of mountains

Natural areas in the mountains are arranged in layers and change depending on the height. At the foot, there is most often a zone of meadows (in the highlands) and forests (in the middle and low mountains). The higher, the more severe the climate becomes.

The change of belts is influenced by climate, height, topography of mountains and their geographical position. For example, continental mountains do not have a belt of forests. From the foot to the top, natural areas change from deserts to grasslands.

Mountain views

There are several classifications of mountains according to various criteria: by structure, shape, origin, age, geographical location. Consider the most basic types:

1. By age distinguish old and young mountains.

old called mountain systems, whose age is hundreds of millions of years. Internal processes they have calmed down, and the outer ones (wind, water) continue to destroy, gradually comparing them with the plains. The old mountains include the Ural, Scandinavian, Khibiny (on the Kola Peninsula).

2. Height distinguish between low, medium and high mountains.

Low mountains (up to 800 m) - with rounded or flat tops and gentle slopes. There are many rivers in these mountains. Examples: Northern Urals, Khibiny, spurs of the Tien Shan.

Medium mountains (800-3000 m). They are characterized by a change in landscape depending on the height. These are the Polar Urals, the Appalachians, the mountains of the Far East.

High mountains (over 3000 m). Basically, these are young mountains with steep slopes and sharp peaks. Natural areas change from forests to icy deserts. Examples: Pamir, Caucasus, Andes, Himalayas, Alps, Rocky Mountains.

3. By origin they distinguish volcanic (Fujiyama), tectonic (Altai Mountains) and denudation, or erosional (Vilyuysky, Ilimsky).

4. According to the shape of the top mountains are peak-shaped (Communism Peak, Kazbek), plateau-shaped and table-shaped (Amby in Ethiopia or Monument Valley in the USA), domed (Ayu-Dag, Mashuk).

Climate in the mountains

The mountain climate has a number of characteristic features that appear with height.

Decrease in temperature - the higher, the colder. It is no coincidence that the peaks of the highest mountains are covered with glaciers.

The atmospheric pressure drops. For example, at the top of Everest, the pressure is two times lower than at sea level. That is why water in the mountains boils faster - at 86-90ºC.

The intensity of solar radiation increases. In the mountains sunlight contains more ultraviolet light.

The amount of precipitation is increasing.

High mountain ranges delay precipitation and affect the movement of cyclones. Therefore, the climate on different slopes of the same mountain may differ. On the windward side there is a lot of moisture, sun, on the leeward side it is always dry and cool. A striking example- The Alps, where subtropics are represented on one side of the slopes, and a temperate climate dominates on the other.

The highest mountains in the world

(Click on the picture to enlarge the scheme in full size)

There are seven highest peaks in the world, which all climbers dream of conquering. Those who succeeded become honorary members of the "Seven Peaks Club". These are mountains such as:

. Chomolungma, or Everest (8848 m). Located on the border of Nepal and Tibet. Belongs to the Himalayas. It has the shape of a trihedral pyramid. The first conquest of the mountain took place in 1953.

. aconcagua(6962 m). It is the highest mountain in the southern hemisphere, located in Argentina. Belongs to the Andes mountain system. The first ascent took place in 1897.

. McKinley- highest peak North America(6168 m). Located in Alaska. First conquered in 1913. It was considered the highest point in Russia until Alaska was sold to America.

. kilimanjaro- the highest mark in Africa (5891.8 m). Located in Tanzania. First conquered in 1889. This is the only mountain where all types of the Earth's belts are represented.

. Elbrus- the highest peak in Europe and Russia (5642 m). Located in the Caucasus. The first ascent took place in 1829.

. Vinson Massif- the highest mountain of Antarctica (4897 m). It is part of the Ellsworth Mountains. First conquered in 1966.

. Mont Blanc- the highest point in Europe (many attribute Elbrus to Asia). Height - 4810 m. Located on the border of France and Italy, belongs to the mountain system of the Alps. The first ascent in 1786, and a century later, in 1886, Theodore Roosevelt conquered the summit of Mont Blanc.

. Pyramid of Carstens- the highest mountain in Australia and Oceania (4884 m). Located on an island New Guinea. The first conquest was in 1962.

Everyone knows that the highest mountain is Everest. Can you name the second tallest? Or at least three more from the TOP-10 list? How many eight-thousanders do you know in the world? Answers under the cut...

No. 10. Annapurna I (Himalayas) - 8091 meters

Annapurna I - highest peak mountain range Annapurna. The height of the mountain is 8091 meters. It ranks tenth among all the peaks in the world. Also, this peak is considered the most dangerous - the mortality rate of climbers for all the years of ascents is 32%, however, in the period from 1990 to the present, the mortality rate has decreased to 17%.

The name Annapurna is translated from Sanskrit as "Goddess of Fertility".

The summit was conquered for the first time in 1950 by French climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal. Initially, they wanted to conquer Dhaulagiri, but found it impregnable and went to Annapurna.

No. 9. Nanga Parbat (Himalayas) - 8125 meters.

Nanga Parbat is one of the most dangerous mountains for climbing among the eight-thousanders. The height of the peak of Nanga Parbat is 8125 meters.

Of the Europeans, Adolf Schlagintveit first noticed the peak in the 19th century during his trip to Asia and made the first sketches.

In 1895, the first attempt to conquer the summit was made by British climber Albert Frederick Mummery. But he died along with his guides.

Then several more attempts were made to conquer in 1932, 1934, 1937, 1939, 1950. But the first successful conquest occurred in 1953, when Hermann Buhl, a member of the German-Austrian expedition led by K. Herligkoffer, climbed Nangaparbat.
Nanga Parbat has a climber death rate of 21%.

No. 8. Manaslu (Himalayas) - 8156 meters.

Manaslu (Kutang) is a mountain that is part of the Mansiri-Himal mountain range in Nepal.
In 1950, Tilman made the first reconnaissance of the mountain and noted that it was possible to climb it from the northeast side. And only 34 years later, after several unsuccessful attempts to conquer the summit, on January 12, 1984, Polish climbers Ryszard Gajewski and Maciej Berbeka climbed for the first time main summit Manaslu, subduing her.
The mortality rate among climbers on Manaslu is 16%.

No. 7. Dhaulagiri I (Himalayas) - 8167 meters.

Dhaulagiri I is the highest point of the Dhaulagiri mountain range in the Himalayas. The height of the peak is 8167 meters.

From 1808 to 1832, Dhaulagiri I was considered the highest peak in the world. Climbers paid attention to it only in the 50s of the 20th century, and only the eighth expedition was able to conquer the summit. The team of the best climbers in Europe, led by Max Eiselin, conquered the summit on May 13, 1960.

In Sanskrit, dhavala or dala means "white" and giri means "mountain".

No. 6. Cho Oyu (Himalayas) - 8201 meters.

Cho Oyu is the sixth highest mountain peak in the world. The height of Cho Oyu is 8201 m.

The first successful ascent was made in 1954 by an Austrian expedition consisting of Herbert Tichy, Josef Jehler and Pazang Dawa Lama. For the first time, an attempt was made to conquer such a peak without oxygen masks and cylinders, and she was a success. With its success, the expedition opened a new page in the history of mountaineering.

To date, 15 different routes have been laid to the top of Cho Oyu.

No. 5. Makalu (Himalayas) - 8485 meters.

Makalu is the fifth highest peak in the world. located in central Himalayas, on the border of Nepal with China (Tibetan autonomous region).

The first attempts to climb began in the mid-50s of the 20th century. This can be explained by the fact that most of the expeditions wanted to conquer Chomolungma and Lhotse, while Makalu and other lesser known neighboring peaks remained in the shadows.

The first successful expedition happened in 1955. French climbers led by Lionel Terray and Jean Cozy reached the summit on May 15, 1955.

Makalu is one of the most difficult peaks for the ascent. Less than 30% of expeditions achieve success.

To date, 17 different routes have been laid to the top of Makalu.

No. 4. Lhotse (Himalayas) - 8516 meters.

Lhotse is the fourth highest peak in the world, at 8516 meters. Located in the Tibetan autonomous region.

The first successful ascent was made on May 18, 1956 by a Swiss expedition consisting of Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger.

Of all attempts to climb Lhotse, only 25% were successful.

No. 3. Kanchenjunga (Himalayas) - 8586 meters.

Until 1852, Kanchenjunga was considered the highest peak in the world, but after calculations based on the data of the 1849 expedition, it was proved that the highest mountain is Everest.

At all peaks in the world, there is a tendency for mortality to decrease over time, but Kangchenjunga is an exception. IN last years the death rate while climbing to the top has reached 23% and is only growing. There is a legend in Nepal that Kanchenjunga is a mountain woman who kills all women who try to climb to its top.

No. 2. Chogori (Karakoram) - 8614 meters.

Chogori is the second highest peak in the world. Chogori was first discovered by a European expedition in 1856 and was designated as Mount K2, that is, the second peak of the Karakorum.
The first attempt to climb was made in 1902 by Oscar Eckenstein and Aleister Crowley, but ended in failure.

The summit was conquered in 1954 by an Italian expedition led by Ardito Desio.

To date, 10 different routes have been laid to the top of K2.
Climbing Chogori is technically much more difficult than climbing Everest. In terms of danger, the mountain ranks second among the eight-thousanders after Annapurna, the mortality rate is 24%. None of the attempts to climb Chogori in winter were successful.

No. 1. Chomolungma (Himalayas) - 8848 meters.

Chomolungma (Everest) - the highest peak of the Earth.

Translated from the Tibetan "Chomolungma" - "Divine (jomo) Mother (ma) of vital energy (lung)". The mountain is named after the Bon goddess Sherab Chzhamma.

The English name "Everest" was given in honor of Sir George Everest, the head of the Survey of British India in 1830-1843. This name was proposed in 1856 by George Everest's successor Andrew Waugh after the publication of the results of his collaborator Radhanath Sikdar, who in 1852 first measured the height of "Peak XV" and showed that it was the highest in the region and probably in the whole world.

Until the moment of the first successful ascent to the peak, which took place in 1953, there were about 50 expeditions to the Himalayas and Karakorum (to Chomolungma, Chogori, Kanchenjunga, Nangaparbat and other peaks).

On May 29, 1953, New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay conquered Everest.

In later years the highest peak climbers conquered the world different countries world - the USSR, China, USA, India, Japan, and other countries.

For all the time, when trying to climb Mount Everest, more than 260 people died on it. Nevertheless, more than 400 people try to conquer Chomolungma every year.

The answer to the question about eight-thousanders is that there are 14 of them in the world, 10 of them are in the Himalayas, and the remaining 4 are in the Karakorum.

The Celestial Empire has long been famous for its records. Looks like China has installed another one. Recently discovered a mountain that may be the lowest in the world. Its height barely crosses the mark of half a meter. However, do not say that this is an ordinary mound, everything is much more complicated.

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In Shandong County there is a so-called mountain, the top of which rises above the surface of the earth by only 60 centimeters and has a width of just over a meter. However, its main volume is underground. Mountain formation in the thickness of the earth's crust goes to a depth of more than 50 meters.

It looks like an ordinary large boulder in the middle of the field. They say that for centuries people wanted to remove it, but no matter how much they dug deep, they never found the foundation. The last attempt was made in 1958 using modern technology, and it was also unsuccessful.

Mount Jing is the highest point in the entire province, and lies at an altitude of 48 meters above sea level. The Chinese believe that this real mountain. But she is not the official champion. Recognized as the smallest mountain in the world is the 43-meter Wycheproof in Australia.

Now local authority protects Jing, forbidding excavations around the mountain or breaking off pieces of it as a keepsake. This object is the most popular attraction for travelers from neighboring settlements. However, tourists from more distant lands sometimes drop in here, and Western journalists have already sniffed out about this Chinese miracle.

Russia is a huge country in terms of territory. It is not surprising that it has all the terrain that is found in nature. Among plains and steppes special place occupy mountain ranges and peaks. They attract travelers and researchers, scientists and tourists, archaeologists and climbers. What mountains are in Russia? What you should pay attention to?

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Origin

Areas mountainous areas formed through complex processes. In the crust of the earth, tectonic crushing, faults and rock breaks occur. They are carried out continuously during the entire existence of the planet, in ancient time eras, such as the Paleozoic, Mesozoic or Cenozoic. Those who are in the Far East, in Kamchatka and the Kuriles are considered young. Seismic activity and volcanoes erupt frequently in these areas.

In the European part of Russia there is a large plain, which has geographical boundary in the east as . These are unique natural sculptures that cause national pride.

Interesting! Only in the Urals nature reserve protecting mineralogy. In the Ilmensky place there is a huge variety of minerals, unique and amazing in their structure and structure.

There are many in the Urals tourist bases, they are located ski resorts. Climbers conquer these majestic elevations.

Variants of the highlands of Russia

• Baikal and Transbaikalia;
• Altai;
• Sayans;
• ridges Verkhoyansk and Stanovoy;
• Chersky ridge.

Each of the districts is interesting and beautiful, the names of the mountains in their composition are unique and owe their origin to the peoples who inhabit the nearby territories. These lands beckon with harsh conditions, tests for the body and spirit. Altai is one of the most popular destinations for tourists. But the Chersky ridge is on the map, but so far little has been studied, but experts suggest that it will also become an attractive place for travelers.

Diversity of territories

The Far East is a region consisting mainly of highlands. The southern territorial part consists of medium and low, but in the north - high ridges. highest point far east – Klyuchevskaya Sopka, this is a volcano with a height of 4750 m.

The mountains in this region are constantly growing, they are located at the junction of plates that are in motion, and therefore there are many volcanoes. In addition to them, there unique object, for which it is worth going to Kamchatka - the Valley of Geysers.

Important! Sikhote-Alin, located in the Primorye region, is part of world heritage. This system is rich not only in the diversity of flora and fauna. This point of Russia on the map is the birthplace of the Far Eastern leopard and the Amur tiger.

Caucasus

The Caucasus deserves a separate description. This massif stretches from the Black to the Caspian, its length is more than 1200 km. The Caucasian ridge is divided into northern part and Transcaucasia.

Height Caucasus mountains fluctuates along the entire length of the ridge. It is he who has the highest point of the whole country and Europe is Elbrus. The mountain was formed as a result of a volcanic eruption. It has a height above sea level of 5600 m. Elbrus is located in such a place that it can be seen from all sides. Travelers approached him in the early 19th century. At its peak, the temperature does not rise above -14 degrees. Snow falls on the mountain all the time, which makes its snow cap perfect. This peak feeds the two largest ones - Kuban and Terek.

In the Greater Caucasus there are three highest mountains Russia:

• Elbrus;
• Dykhtau;
• Kazbek.

Interesting! In addition to the Caucasus Mountains, Kamchatka and Altai are famous for their large hills, among them: Klyuchevskaya Sopka, Belukha, Ichinskaya Sopka.

10 high mountains

A little more about each of the largest hills:

• It is already clear about Elbrus, this is an inactive volcano, which is part of the national park. Its height is 5642 meters.
• Dykhtau occupies the second largest place among mountain peaks countries. This is a mountain in Caucasian ridge rises to 5200 m. The ascent to this peak was first carried out only in 1888.
• The third highest mountain in the country located on the border of Russia and Georgia. This is Pushkin Peak. It rises next to Dykhtau in the center of the Caucasus range. His conquest took place in 1961. Interestingly, this ascent was made not by professionals, but by the players of the Spartak club. The height of the peak is 5100 meters.
• A little lower, namely one hundred meters, Kazbek rises. It is also related to the Greater Caucasus, located in its lateral part in the Khokh mountain range. Three London climbers conquered this peak in the middle of the 19th century.
• Near the border of Georgia and Kabardino-Balkaria is the fifth highest point in Russia called Gestola. At its top, glaciers have accumulated that date back to the Paleozoic era. The most famous of them is Adishi.
• Sixth in the top ten is Shota Rustaveli's pick. Although the name on the map of the peak is famous person Georgian origin, yet refers to the Russian part of the Caucasus. The peak stands on the border, no wonder both countries claim rights to it. The mountain has 4895 meters.
• A little lower (4780 meters) is Mount Jimara. It is located in Alanya, at the very border of Russia and Georgia. Again, this is part Greater Caucasus.
• In ninth place is Mount Saukhokh, again from the Greater Caucasus, located in North Ossetia. The height of the peak is 4636 meters. She refers to unconquered heights, as well as Kukurtli-Kolbashi. This mountain completes the list of ten most major peaks Russia, its height is 4324 meters.

Interesting! So far, no one has conquered the mountain formations that are on the 8th, 9th and 10th places on the list. This can push travelers to new feats.

The lowest mountains

In addition to the highest mountain peaks, it is interesting to know the rating of the lowest ones. Such a concept as the lowest mountain is very difficult. It turns out that it is not so easy to name it. Mountains can only be called what is higher

The lowest mountains in the world are the Świętokrzyskie Mountains in Poland. These mountains belong to the Małopolska Upland. Not far from them is the Kielce-Sandomierz Upland, which also has a similar landscape. This hill stretches for 80 kilometers. Most low mountains in the world consist of quartzites, sandstone, greywacke and limestone. They also have a hilly-ridged relief, and cuestas have developed in some areas.

The highest point of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains is considered to be the summit of Mount Lysica. The height of the high point is 612 meters. The mountain system of the lowest mountains consists of long sections mountain ranges. In some places the mountains are covered woodlands, but mostly the landscape of the mountains is scree. Only thanks to this, the lowest mountains on Earth have such a unique look.

This landscape was formed due to low temperatures, which were combined with strong blowing mountainous terrain. After the research, it became clear that these mountains were completely covered with dense vegetation. Today, fir forests grow only on a small part of these mountains. These forests are found in mountain ranges. This place is the border of the growth of fir, sycamore and beech in the European part. Also found here pine forests and oak-coniferous, which have a small percentage of larch. There are ash, maple, hornbeam, linden, elm, yew and spruce here.

The main basis of the herbal flora of the lowest mountains of Europe are ferns and club mosses. A variety of plants grow on the lowlands and the fauna here is diverse and rich. also in local forests you can meet fallow deer, wild boar, deer, marten, foxes, beavers, squirrels, badgers and weasels. In addition, the lowest mountains in the world have their own national park. Part of Świętokrzyski national park is gorgeous natural area Jedlova Forest, which is under protection as a nature reserve. Around this protected zone there are 66 more reserves and about 670 different natural monuments.

And the lowest mountains in Russia are the Ural Mountains. Or rather, not the mountains themselves, but the most low point Ural mountains. Low mountains can be found in the Middle Urals. These mountains have the most rich history. Also, a variety of minerals are hidden here. It was here that the very first gold in Russia was discovered. Also, minerals were first discovered in Ural mountains. Here are a large number of a variety of natural attractions, monuments of history and architecture.