Maarg Manthan · Topic 4.2

Significant Mountain Ranges of the World

Geography › Mountains, Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunami · Topic 4.2

The significant mountain ranges of the world include the Himalayas and Karakoram of Asia, the Alps and Urals of Europe, the Atlas and Drakensberg of Africa, the Andes, Rockies and Appalachians of the Americas, and the Great Dividing Range of Australia. Most of the highest ranges are young fold mountains along plate boundaries, while the Urals and Appalachians are old.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Geography · Mountains, Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunami

At a Glance

Asia Himalayas, Karakoram, Hindu Kush, Tian Shan, Urals (border)
Europe Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, Caucasus, Urals
Africa Atlas, Drakensberg, Ethiopian Highlands
Americas Andes, Rockies, Appalachians, Sierra Nevada
Oceania Great Dividing Range, Southern Alps
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Geography: Mountains, Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunami

Where Does It Fit?

This is the second topic of the category on mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunami. The previous topic classified mountains by origin, and this one maps the major ranges. The next topic covers volcanism. Previous topic: Classification of Mountains – Fold, Block and Volcanic. Next topic: Volcanism – Causes and Lava Types.

Which Are the Major Ranges of Asia?

Range	Location	Highest peak
Himalayas	India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Pakistan	Mount Everest, 8,848.86 m, the highest in the world
Karakoram	Pakistan, India, China	K2 (Godwin-Austen), about 8,611 m, second highest in the world
Hindu Kush	Afghanistan and Pakistan	Tirich Mir, about 7,708 m
Pamirs	Tajikistan, Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan	Ismoil Somoni Peak, about 7,495 m; called the Roof of the World
Tian Shan	China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan	Jengish Chokusu, about 7,439 m
Kunlun	China	Over 7,000 m; north of the Tibetan Plateau
Altai	Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia	Belukha, about 4,506 m

The Himalayas and the Karakoram are young fold mountains, and their structure is discussed in Himalayan Ranges – Shiwaliks, Lesser, Greater and Trans-Himalaya.

Which Are the Major Ranges of Europe?

The Alps stretch about 1,200 km through France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Germany, with Mont Blanc, about 4,800 m, as the highest peak, and were formed by the African-Eurasian collision. The Pyrenees form the border between France and Spain, with Aneto, about 3,404 m. The Carpathians arc through central and eastern Europe, and the Caucasus, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, includes Mount Elbrus, about 5,642 m, the highest peak in Europe. The Urals, running north-south for about 2,500 km, form the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia and are old, worn-down fold mountains whose highest peak is Mount Narodnaya, about 1,895 m. The Scandinavian Mountains and the Apennines are other ranges.

Which Are the Major Ranges of Africa, Oceania and Antarctica?

Atlas Mountains: in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, young fold mountains, with Toubkal, about 4,167 m, as the highest.
Drakensberg: the eastern escarpment of southern Africa in South Africa and Lesotho, with Thabana Ntlenyana, about 3,482 m.
Ethiopian Highlands and the volcanoes of the East African Rift: including Kilimanjaro, about 5,895 m, the highest peak in Africa, as in Great Rift Valley and Rift Valley Lakes.
Great Dividing Range: along the eastern coast of Australia, an old range of about 3,500 km; Mount Kosciuszko, about 2,228 m, is the highest peak of mainland Australia.
Southern Alps: in New Zealand, with Aoraki (Mount Cook), about 3,724 m.
Transantarctic Mountains and Vinson Massif: Mount Vinson, about 4,892 m, is the highest peak in Antarctica.

Which Are the Major Ranges of the Americas?

Range	Location	Facts
Andes	Western South America, Venezuela to Chile	Longest continental range, about 7,000 km; Aconcagua, about 6,961 m
Rockies	Western North America, Canada to New Mexico	About 4,800 km; Mount Elbert, about 4,401 m
Sierra Nevada and Cascades	Western USA	Mount Whitney, about 4,421 m, highest in the contiguous USA; Cascades are volcanic
Alaska Range	Alaska	Denali, about 6,190 m, the highest peak of North America
Appalachians	Eastern North America	Old fold mountains; Mount Mitchell, about 2,037 m

The formation of the Andes and the Rockies is explained in Ocean-Continent Convergence – Andes and Rockies. Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador, though lower than Everest, is the point on the surface farthest from the centre of the Earth, because of the equatorial bulge.

How Should One Study Ranges for Prelims?

Prelims frequently asks to match ranges with countries or peaks, or to identify a range from a description. A practical method is to learn each range in four points: the continent, the type (young or old), the highest peak and the one distinguishing feature, such as the Urals as the Europe-Asia boundary or the Andes as the longest. As an analytical point, the location of young high ranges along the Pacific rim and the Alpine-Himalayan belt follows plate boundaries, so the map of ranges can be recalled by recalling the map of plates in Plate Tectonics and Types of Plate Boundaries.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Map-based Regular Prelims theme
Peaks Highest peaks asked
Link Follow plate boundaries

What Came Next?

The next topic describes volcanism, its causes and the types of lava. Next topic: Volcanism – Causes and Lava Types.

Key People and Terms

Range Line of connected mountains
Karakoram Range with K2
Great Dividing Range Australia’s eastern highland
Roof of the World Pamirs and Tibetan Plateau
Elbrus Highest peak of Europe
Chimborazo Farthest point from the Earth’s centre

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Everest is the highest; K2 is second.
Andes is the longest continental range.
Elbrus is the highest peak of Europe.
Urals separate Europe and Asia.
Kilimanjaro is the highest peak of Africa.

Do Not Confuse With

Mont Blanc and Elbrus Alps versus Caucasus
Urals and Appalachians Both old, on different continents
Denali and Aconcagua Highest in North America versus South America

Memory Hook

Everest, K2, Aconcagua, Denali; Elbrus for Europe, Kilimanjaro for Africa.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about the distribution of ranges. These points add depth.

Pattern Along plate boundaries
Age Young versus old ranges
Climate Ranges shape rainfall and rivers

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Describe the distribution of the major young fold mountain ranges of the world and relate it to plate boundaries.”

How to Answer

List Alpine-Himalayan and Pacific ranges.
Plates Convergent boundaries.
Contrast Old ranges.
Effects Climate and rivers.

GS Relevance

Prelims: map-based questions on ranges and peaks. GS Paper 1: world physical geography.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the longest mountain range on land?

The Andes in South America, about 7,000 km long, is the longest continental mountain range. It runs along the western coast of the continent from Venezuela to southern Chile, and its highest peak is Aconcagua in Argentina at about 6,961 m.

Which range forms the boundary between Europe and Asia?

The Ural Mountains, which run north-south for about 2,500 km in Russia and Kazakhstan, form the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia. They are old, worn-down fold mountains, and their highest peak is Mount Narodnaya at about 1,895 m.

Which is the highest peak of each continent?

The highest peaks are Everest in Asia, Aconcagua in South America, Denali in North America, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe, Vinson Massif in Antarctica and Puncak Jaya in Oceania, a peak in the Indonesian part of New Guinea.

Which are the old fold mountains of the world?

The Urals in Russia, the Appalachians in eastern North America, the Aravallis in India, the Scottish Highlands and the Great Dividing Range in Australia are old ranges. They were formed hundreds of millions of years ago and are low and rounded now.

What are the Karakoram and Hindu Kush?

The Karakoram is a high range in Pakistan, India and China that contains K2, the second highest peak in the world, at about 8,611 m. The Hindu Kush is a range in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with Tirich Mir, about 7,708 m, as its highest peak.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Andes is the longest continental mountain range.

True

It extends about 7,000 km.

2 Mount Elbrus is the highest peak of the Alps.

False

It is in the Caucasus; Mont Blanc is in the Alps.

3 The Urals form the boundary between Europe and Asia.