What is a ridge? This term is used in three different meanings:
- as a designation of the spine of animals;
- as an element of a mountain system or country;
- figuratively: as the basis or core of something.
In this article, we will focus on what ridge is in geography. What does he look like? What elements does it consist of? In the article you will also find a list of the largest mountain ranges of the planet.
Elements of the mountain system. What is a ridge?
A mountain system (a country or simply mountains) is a form of planetary relief that consists of several structural elements. Among them:
- mountain ranges;
- intermountain hollows and valleys;
- individual peaks;
- mountain ranges;
- highlands and foothills.
Let us dwell in more detail on the first element from this list. So what is a ridge? This is a fairly large, positive, linearly oriented form of relief, which consists of a chain of individual vertices. Any mountain range has two distinct elements: a ridge and slopes directed in opposite directions. The latter, as a rule, are characterized by significant steepness.
The relative heights of mountain ranges range widely: from several hundred meters to several kilometers. In length, they can reach several tens and even hundreds of kilometers. Ranges are straight or curved in shape in plan (the second type is much more common in nature).
The interaction of the ridges. The largest mountain ranges of the world
We found out what a ridge is. Now let's find out how mountain ranges interact with each other, and what forms of relief are formed in this case.
If two ridges are located nearby and parallel to each other, then a lowland is formed between them, called in geomorphology decay. Very often, a channel of a small watercourse forms at its bottom, since water flows into the decay from both slopes.
The intersection of two or more ridges is called a mountain junction. But a system of several linearly elongated ridges is called a mountain range.
Below is a list of the ten largest mountain ranges of the planet (their location and total length are indicated in brackets):
- Vernadsky (Antarctica, 2400 km).
- Coastal (Canada, 1600 km).
- Verkhoyanskiy (Russia, 1200 km).
- Sikhote-Alin (Russia, 1200 km).
- Main Caucasian (Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, 1100 km).
- Aleutian (USA, 1000 km).
- Mugodzhary (Kazakhstan, 650 km).
- Abakansky (Russia, 300 km).
- Zailiysky Alatau (Kazakhstan, 280 km).
- Agrydag (Turkey, 200 km).
Most often, ridges are part of larger mountain systems. But sometimes they can take the form of independent geomorphological structures.