A mountain is a landform that extends over the surrounding terrain in a restricted area. A mountain is usually steeper than a hill, but there is no commonly accepted normal definition for the height of a mountain or a hill though a mountain usually has an particular summit. Mountains are normally given as heights over mean sea level. The Himalayas common 5 km above sea level, at the same time as the Andes average 4 km. Most other mountain average 2 – 2.5 km. The peak mountain on Earth is Everest, 8,848 m (29,028 feet), set in the world's most important mountain range, the Himalayas.
Sufficiently big mountains have especially different climatic conditions at the top than at the base, and will thus contain different life zones at different altitudes on their slopes. The plants and animals of a sector are somewhat lonely when the zones above and below are harsh, and many unique species take place on mountainsides as a result. Extreme cases are recognized as sky islands. Cloud forests are forests on mountain sides which be a focus for moisture from the air, creating a single ecosystem. Very tall mountains may be enclosed in ice or snow.
Sufficiently big mountains have especially different climatic conditions at the top than at the base, and will thus contain different life zones at different altitudes on their slopes. The plants and animals of a sector are somewhat lonely when the zones above and below are harsh, and many unique species take place on mountainsides as a result. Extreme cases are recognized as sky islands. Cloud forests are forests on mountain sides which be a focus for moisture from the air, creating a single ecosystem. Very tall mountains may be enclosed in ice or snow.
