Zusammenfassung der Ressource
GCSE Geography - Fold Mountains - the
Alps
- How are they formed?
- Rivers erode and transport sediment
to the sea/ocean in a geosyncline
- Rivers meet the sea and energy falls
- Sediment is deposited
- Over time, layers of sediment build up and turn into rock
- This is due to the pressure from above
- The sediment is forced upwards as it is compressed
- Plates move together due to convection currents
- The layers of sediment fold into a
series of synclines and anticlines
- Farming
- Traditionally dairy cattle
- Cable cars are used to transport milk from
the co-operative dairies into the valley
- Transhumance
- In summer, animals are taken to the saeter to graze
- In winter they return to the farm
- This allows the grass to grow in summer
- Some hay is farmed for use as feed
- However, most farmers use artificial cattle feed
- Valleys are sheltered from wind
- There is little flat land available
- The soil is reasonably fertile
- Cool climate, heavy snowfall and strong
winds mean a short growing season
- Rivers and HEP
- Rivers
- Steep slopes
- Summer glacial melting
- High precipitation
- These all produce fast flowing
rivers ideal for HEP production
- Tourism
- Resorts like Chamounix were opened in the 1950s
- Winter sports like skiing and snowboarding are popular
- Wildlife tourism also contributes to the economy hugely
- There are both winter and summer resorts
- The Alps are close to important areas like Germany and France
- Trees and logging
- Trees grow up to a height of 1800m
- Soft wood can be used for paper and fuel
- Housing and roads
- There is little flat land available for building
- It is difficult to establish communication links
- Hard to locate industries
- Some roads or settlements
need avalanche protection
- New roads give access to upland pastures