How are mountains formed?
Mountains are formed by movements of the Earth's crust. The crust is the outer layer of the Earth. There are 7 major plates that make up the Earth's crust. Tectonic plates are large pieces of rock. Mountains are formed when these plates collide with each other. Other mountains are formed by volcanic activity when the crust cracks open.
Interesting facts
- The bottom of a mountain is called the base and the top of the mountain is called the summit.
- A group of mountains is called a mountain range.
- The Himalayas in Asia is the highest mountain range in the world.
- The Andes in South America is the longest mountain range in the world.
- The tallest mountain in the world is Mount Everest. Mount Everest is in the Himalayas in Asia. 
- Ben Nevis in Scotland is the tallest mountain in Great Britain.
- Olympus Mons is located on Mars and is the tallest known mountain in the Solar System.
- Conifers, oak, chestnut, mosses and ferns are some of the plants that may be found on mountains.
