One mountain is wonderful, but even better if there are many mountains. It is especially pleasing to the eye when they are combined into a long ridge, in which peaks alternate with valleys, small spurs, and all this is diluted with the murmur of rivers. Such beauty, stretching over several thousand kilometers, will not leave anyone indifferent. The emergence of mountain ranges explains the theory of the formation of relief. It says: ridges of valleys, mountains and hills are formed as a result of the collision of continental plates crawling on top of each other. It is difficult to imagine the forces that are necessary for such a process. Yes, this is not necessary. Better to admire the result of their activities. Especially if it is the longest mountain in the world. Let's make their rating and find out the location.
Cordilleras
First, I want to clarify one important point. Many people confuse these mountains with the Andes, although these are two completely different chains formed in different eras. Some call the Andes “Andean Cordillera”, but they have nothing to do with these mountains. Confusion also arises about their location. Cordillera “hug” North America from the south and west, creating a dense climate barrier. For South America, the Andes play the same role. Interestingly, these mountains almost converge at the junction of the 2 Americas. Therefore, they are often combined into a single mountain range, which is fundamentally wrong. It would be more correct not to confuse these giants and leave the Cordillera to North America, and the Andes to South.
So, the Cordillera is the longest mountain in the world, with a length of just over 18,000 kilometers. They differ from their "colleagues" in a number of features. Cordillera elongated exclusively in the submeridional direction, have a high percentage of high mountains, are formed in five orotectonic zones of different ages, have active volcanism and high seismicity.
Sea mountains
Not everyone knows that mountains can be located not only on land, but also under water. Unfortunately, most of them are hidden from the eyes of travelers on foot. Yes, and they are of little interest, because you cannot ski on such mountains. Well, conquering the peaks will look pretty ridiculous. But underwater chains are not inferior in number to aboveground ones. The height of the underwater giants is difficult to determine, but the extent is easy to measure.
So, the second place in the rating "The longest mountain in the world" at the Mid-Atlantic ridge with a total length of 18,000 kilometers. It is located in the center of the Atlantic Ocean, along the contour of the American coast. This formation includes several ranges: Knipovich, Mona, Reykjanes, South and North Atlantic. Individual peaks were transformed into islands (Azores, Bermuda, etc.). Among the above ranges there are no particularly high, old or young ones, it’s just the longest mountains on earth after the Cordillera, which is also a lot. Move on.
Andes
The Andes is the third longest mountain in the world, with a total length of 9,000 kilometers. With their wide front, the Andes are directed to the Pacific Ocean, and in the north they overlook the Caribbean Sea. The eastern part of the border leads to the Andean ranges. By the way, ridges of different ages are located along the entire length of the mountain system. Mountain-building movements continue even now, accompanied by earthquakes and volcanic processes.
The Andes are characterized by a high-mountainous relief, which determines a noticeable altitudinal zonation and the formation of significant glaciation. The huge length of the mountain system causes a difference in the hydration and heat supply of its individual parts. Despite the fact that the subcontinent is mountainous, its territory has long been densely populated. The Andean peoples have mastered the high plains, intermountain valleys and hollows within the mountain system and adapted to life in such conditions. In the Andes are the highest mountain villages, cities and cultivated land. Within the mountains, there are six physical and geographical units. But in this article we will only talk about two: the Central Andes and Tierra del Fuego.
Central Andes
The largest part of the mountain system. Within its borders are mountain ranges of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru. The orotectonic structure is characterized by the presence of high plateaus and a plateau - “Pun” (or “Altiplano” in Bolivia). The rigid median array within which the plains formed was divided into several blocks. This is clearly seen in the cracks that appeared due to the rise of magma and the outpouring of lavas. As a result, there is a combination of accumulative plains in the lowlands of the relief, areas of penoplen and lava plateaus. As for the climate, the Central Andes are quite arid.
Tierra del Fuego
The archipelago includes several dozen islands of various sizes. The largest of them, occupying two thirds of the total territory, is about. Tierra del Fuego. The islands belong to Argentina and Chile. The western part of Tierra del Fuego continues the Andes mountain system and is strongly dissected. Massifs (1000-1300 meters) are divided by intermountain valleys, and some are flooded with ocean waters - straits, fjords. The highest point (2469 meters) is located on the Big Island. The ancient glacial relief prevails. A lot of moraine-loaded lakes.
The vast territory of the archipelago is dominated by a temperate marine climate. In the western part, heavy rainfall (drizzling rains) up to 3000 mm occurs throughout the year. In the east, there is less rainfall - up to 500 mm. Summer is cool and winter is relatively warm (1-5 ° C). Tourists visiting Tierra del Fuego claim that summer is like in the tundra, and winter is similar to subtropics (in temperature). With the rise in the mountains, the temperature drops sharply and already at around 500 meters reaches a negative value.
Transantarctic mountains
In Antarctica there is not only ice, snow and penguins, but also mountains. And quite long. A huge ridge crosses Antarctica, dividing it into Western and Eastern. This ice giant, ranking last in the Longest Mountain in the World ranking, spans 3500 kilometers. The ridge was discovered back in 1908 by Captain Ross. In subsequent years, it was repeatedly crossed by research expeditions, but most of it still remains unexplored. Fortunately, now there is satellite imagery, which allows, if not to feel the ridge, then at least look at it.