Mountains. Erinn Banting

Transcription

1 Mountains Erinn Banting

2 Published by Weigl Publishers Inc th Avenue, Suite 3304, PMB 6G New York, NY Web site: Copyright 2007 Weigl Publishers Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Banting, Erinn. Mountains / Erinn Banting. p. cm. (Biomes) Includes index. ISBN Mountain ecology Juvenile literature. I. Title. II. Biomes (Weigl Publishers) QH541.5.M65B '3--dc Printed in the United States of America Project Coordinator Heather Kissock Designers Warren Clark, Janine Vangool Cover description: The Swiss Alps are the central portion of the Alps mountain range that lies in Switzerland. All of the Internet URLs given in the book were valid at the time of publication. However, due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, some addresses may have changed, or sites may have ceased to exist since publication. While the author and publisher regret any inconvenience this may cause readers, no responsibility for any such changes can be accepted by either the author or the publisher.

3 Biomes-MountainsOct31hk:*MountainsMarch28 10/31/08 1:19 PM Page 3 CONTENTS Introduction... 4 Mountain Locations... 6 Where in the World?... 8 Mountain Climates Types of Mountains Technology in the Mountains Life in the Mountains Plants and Trees Mammals in the Mountains Birds and Insects Mountains in Danger Working in the Mountains Eco Challenge Make Your Own Volcano Further Research Glossary/Index... 32

4 4 BIOMES Introduction E arth is home to millions of different organisms, all of which have specific survival needs. These organisms rely on their environment, or the place where they live, for their survival. All plants and animals have relationships with their environment. They interact with the environment itself, as well as the other plants and animals within the environment. This interaction creates an ecosystem. Different organisms have different needs. Not every animal can survive in extreme climates. Not all plants require the same amount of water. Earth is composed of many types of environments, each of which provides organisms with the living conditions they need to survive. Organisms with similar environmental needs form communities in areas that meet these needs. These areas are called biomes. A biome can have several ecosystems. Mount Taranaki is a dormant volcano in New Zealand.

5 MOUNTAINS 5 Mountains can be found around the globe in a wide range of climates and regions. Some are tall and rocky with icy peaks, while others are low, rounded, and covered in grassy meadows. Regardless of their height or location, mountains are constantly evolving. Initially, they rise from the ground because of movement deep beneath the earth or by volcanic activity. Once they are formed, the mountains are sculpted, or worn away by erosion, over thousands of years. Erosion continues to occur throughout the life of the mountain, eventually causing the mountain to wear down and become level. Some lowland regions were mountainous millions of years ago. One example is the plains of Australia. FASCINATING FACTS Some mountains are volcanoes that are no longer active. They are called extinct volcanoes. Mount Aconcagua, a 22,830-foot (6,960-meter) peak in the Andes Mountains, is an extinct volcano. The Rocky Mountains, nicknamed the Rockies, are home to the tallest peaks in North America. Some of the Rockies peaks are 13,000 feet (4,000 m) tall. Mountains are home to many unique plants and animals. Due to the freezing temperatures and barren soil found at higher altitudes, these plants and animals have been forced to adapt to difficult conditions.

6 6 BIOMES Mountain Locations M ountain ranges can be found on each of the Earth s seven continents North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica, and Australia. Mountains are any area of land that rises 2,000 feet (610 m) above ground. Hills, valleys, plains, and lowlands can be found below mountains. Mount Everest, the world s tallest peak, looms 29,035 feet (8,850 m) above the ground below. Fourteen of Earth s tallest peaks, including Mount Everest, are located in the Himalayas, a mountain range in southern Asia. The Himalayas stretch from the Indus River, in northern India, to the Brahmaputra River in eastern India. The peak of Mount Everest is the highest point on Earth.