What are the types of mountains?

Mountains are formed due to large scale movements of the earth's crust and the collision of the tectonic plates. Over the history of earth - 9 such movements have taken plates which have resulted in formation of large mountains and mountain ranges.

Broadly they can be classified into 5 major categories:

Volcanic Mountains:

• These mountains are formed due to collision of tectonic plates and movement along the plate boundaries which erupt to formed mountains.
• Most important types of Volcanic Mountains are : Composite cones or Stratovolcanoes and Shield Volcanoes.
• Mount Fiji and Khilimanjaro are Stratovolcanoes while Mauna Loa on Hawaii is a Shield Volcano.

Fold Mountains:

• These are formed due to large scale collision of tectonic plates which results in subduction and folding to form mountains
• Balkan Mountains, Jura, Zagros mountains are some examples

Block Mountains:

• These are formed When a fault block is raised or tilted.
• Higher blocks are called horsts and troughs are called grabens
• Examples include Sierra Nevada Range, Rhila Rhodope mountain range etc.

Residual Mountains:

• Residual mountains are formed as a result of erosion of an existing elevated area.
• Examples include the Aravalli Range, Nilgiri Mountains, Eastern and Western Ghats.

Mountains can also be classified basis origin and mode of origin and period and the location.

Hi Aspirant,

There are five main types of mountains: volcanic, fold, plateau, fault-block and dome.These type of mountains are available all over across the globe and they are formed naturally over the years.Out of these the block mountains and the dome mountains are common.

Hope it helps!!