Mountain Systems and Highland Regions of the World

A condensed, point-by-point summary of the module, for reviewing right before a test or exam.

1. The Himalayas and the Roof of the World. The India-Eurasia collision built Earth's highest range and the vast, water-rich Tibetan Plateau.
2. The Andes and the American Cordillera. Subduction along South America's Pacific margin raised the Andes, Earth's longest continental range.
3. The Alps, Caucasus, and Mediterranean Mountain Belts. The Tethys Ocean's closure between Africa and Europe raised the Alps, Caucasus, and the Alpide belt.
4. The Rockies and North American Highlands. Flat-slab subduction of the Farallon Plate built the Rockies far inland from North America's coast.
5. The East African Rift and African Highlands. The East African Rift is slowly splitting the continent apart, raising volcanic highlands as it widens.
6. Plateaus, Mesas, and Tableland Formation. Plateaus form by uplift, flood volcanism, or erosion, and can weather down into mesas, then buttes.
7. Orographic Effects on Climate and Vegetation. Mountains force air to rise and cool, wringing out rain on windward slopes and starving leeward deserts.
8. Mountain Passes, Altitude, and Human Settlement. From Andean farmers to Tibetan gene variants, humans have adapted culturally and biologically to altitude.