Mountains

Where do mountains come from? Mountains are formed when two plates within the earth’s crust crash together. The land shoves up and forms a mountain. It is usually called a mountain when it is higher than 600 metres. Less than this is called a hill. They are made up of rock & earth.

How mountains look Mountains usually have steep, sloping sides and sharp or slightly rounded ridges and peaks.

Parts of a mountain The summit, or the top of a mountain; The slope, or side of the mountain A very deep valley between young mountains is known as a gorge.

Types of mountains Mountains are formed by slow but gigantic movements of the earth's crust (the outer layer of the Earth). The Earth's crust is made up of 6 huge slabs called plates, which fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. When two slabs of the earth's crust smash into each other the land can be pushed upwards, forming mountains.

Mountain formation Mountains form in different ways Sometimes the crust has folded and buckled, sometimes it breaks into huge blocks. In both cases, great areas of land are lifted upwards to form mountains. Other mountains are formed by the earth's crust rising into a dome, or by volcanic activity when the crust cracks open.

Some interesting facts Mountains exist under the sea. The tallest mountain in space is on Mars. The highest 14 mountains in the world are found on the Himalayas, in India, Nepal & China. Some mountains have frozen rivers on them called glaciers.

Croagh Patrick Croagh Patrick is one of our highest mountains and is named after our patron saint, Saint Patrick. It is a cone shaped mountain. It is in Co.Mayo. On the last Sunday of July every year, thousands of people climb this mountain. Some people do it in their bare feet as a pilgrimage.

Photo of Croagh Patrick

Map of Co. Mayo

Climbing Croagh Patrick It is best to climb this mountain in Spring or Summer. The first stop on the way up is a statue of St. Patrick. A priest called Fr. Patterson collected money in America to build this statue in It usually takes 2 hours to ascend & and an hour & a half to descend.

Map of Ireland