Difference Between Mountains Vs Hills Game
This a Difference Between Mountains Vs Hills Game for students in 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades. Have you ever wondered how to differentiate between a hill and a mountain ? Check out what makes each different by playing this interactive online game. The classification is a bit confusing. However, what makes for unanimity is their height and range. Mountains are higher (1000 feet and above) while hills are lower (anything under 1000 feet). Mountains also exist in a range while hills are localized entities. This geography game teaches the difference in a fun way. You can practice with the lesson below. Have fun learning.
When you hear the word "mountain," you might automatically think of an elevation. However, there are several differences between mountains and hills. The main differences lie in the : Shape, Altitude, and Geological formations. To learn more about the differences between mountains and hills, read on. And don't forget to take our quiz on this page at the end!
Differences between mountains and hills
A mountain is a terrain that rises from the surrounding land and has a considerable height. To be considered a mountain, it must rise more than 2,000 feet above sea level. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world, while Denali is the highest peak in North America. While hills and mountains are both elevations, the main difference is their height above sea level.
Hills, on the other hand, are elevations that are not so high above sea level. Think of a height of 300 meters above sea level as an example of a hill. Also anything under 2000 feet is a good example.
Geological formations
Mountain ranges were formed by successive collisions of continents and oceanic crust. As the continents grew, they broke apart and were re-assembled through processes called erosion and mountain building. The next collisions caused the continents to split apart again, resulting in a supercontinent. This tectonic cycle has been repeated many times throughout the geological past. Tectonic activities like these have led to the formation of huge mountain ranges around the world.
Shape
The geology of hills and mountains determines their shape. Mountains are formed by faults and erosion that remove rock from a geographic formation. Hills usually have a sloping shape with a rounded top. They usually form at the edges of mountains or at the boundaries of tectonic plates that are no longer active. When hills have fallen in the past, they usually have a different shape than adjacent mountain ranges. Some hills were formed by erosion and deposition. In some cases, man has created hills by excavating and depositing soil in various places.
Altitude
In defining a mountain, geographic societies initially used a very simple definition. At that time, a mountain was any geographical feature that rose more than 1,000 feet above sea level. Today, there is no longer agreement on the exact height of a mountain, and geographic societies use more general criteria to classify landscapes. But the differences in elevation are striking. In the U.S., the 2,000-foot definition of a mountain is more commonly used.
Volcanism
When volcanoes erupt in mountains and hills, they leave behind huge accumulations of molten rock. The material is lighter than the solid rock that surrounds it, and it often breaks through a zone of weakness in the earth's crust. Large explosions of molten rock shoot out in a variety of shapes and forms, including lava flows and dense clouds. Larger lava fragments may fall back to the vent, and some may be carried by the wind to distant locations. Some volcanoes remain inactive and form hills.
Forests
Forests in mountains and hills are an important part of the landscape and provide habitat for a variety of plant and animal species. These forests also provide food and shelter for migratory birds and other wildlife. Climate changes can have dramatic effects on these ecosystems, and it is important to protect them. Forests on hills are not only vital ecosystems for the fauna that live in them, but also play an important role in reducing soil erosion and enriching the soil through the leaves they shed.