2. What is a Mountain?  “A natural elevation of the earth’s surface rising more or less abruptly to a summit”  Fun Fact: Sutter Buttes = smallest mountain range in the world (highest point is approximately 2,000 feet)

3. Elevation and Height  Elevation – meters or feet above sea level  Actual height – the height of the peak (“summit”) above the base  Mount Everest has the highest elevation, but Mauna Kea has the greatest actual height… nearly 3x that of Everest!

6. Elevation Actual Height

8. Elevation and Height  Other notable mountains in North America: Mt. McKinley in Alaska (highest mountain in N. America) Mt. Whitney in California (highest mountain in the 48 adjoining states)  A measure of elevation differences in a region = relief.

9. Reading a Relief Map  Shows altitude by 3D model, color, shading, or contour lines  Mountains are shown by closed curves of increasing elevation, smaller toward the summit  closely spaced contour lines indicate steep slope, widely spaced lines show gentle slope

10. Groups of Mountains  Mountain range = a series of mountain peaks  Mountain system = a group of mountain ranges  Longest mountain range: Mid-Atlantic Ridge… extends for about 10,000 miles  nearly pole to pole down the middle of the ocean!

11. Mountains in the Bible  Mountains are referenced more than 300 times!  Examples: Mountains of Ararat (where Noah’s ark landed) Mount Sinai (where Moses received the Law) Mount Moriah (where Abraham offered Isaac) Someday, Jesus will return to earth on the Mount of Olives