Fold Mountains

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld_HNGFRcpg (Embed)

Fold Mountains overview

Caption: : BBC Bitesize Fold Mountains video

Formation of Fold Mountains

f60a2378-56f2-4591-9937-68f13502c0c8 (image/jpg)

Firstly, sediment (carried by rivers) is deposited in ancient geosynclines As the plates get closer and closer, the sediment gets compressed into rock, as shown in the image opposite. This sedimentary rock gets folded and forced upwards to form mountains. Where the rocks are folded upwards, they are called anticlines. Where the rocks are folded downwards, they are called synclines. Fold mountains are found at both destructive and collision plate margins. At destructive plate margins (e.g. the Andes in South America were formed this way), as the plates push together, the continental crust is squashed and forced upwards. At collision plate margins (e.g. the Himalayas in Asia were formed this way), as the continental plates move towards each other they push layers sediment into folds. 

Andes Case Study 

BASIC FACTS Location: South America. They are world's longest mountain range running for over 7,000km and covering 6 countries. Formation: The mountains have been formed as a result of the destructive plate boundary of the Nazca plate and the South American plate.  The denser oceanic Nazca plate is subducted beneath the South American. The South American plate of the South American plate is folded upwards and crumpled into fold mountains.  Tallest peak: Aconcacgua

USES AND ADAPTIONS Farming: Mostly subsistence farming, but also some cash crops such as soya beans, rice and cotton are grown. Adapted to use terraces to retain water. Also have llamas (that are well-adapted to mountainous areas) to carry produce up steep hills, drink their milk or to eat Mining: Yanacocha gold mine in Peru is the largest gold mine in the world, however, it causes water pollution as the rock must be sprayed with cyanide. The nearby town of Cajamarca has grown from 30,000 people to over 200,000 - better healthcare/education but more crime Hydro-electric power: The steep slopes and narrow valleys are ideal for HEP as they can be dammed and the rapid flow of water ensures the generation of electricity. One initiative, the Yuncan project, dams rivers in NE Peru. This can give rural communities better facilities and communication.  Tourism: Peru's Inca Trail - 43km trek to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Fold Mountains conclusion...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy3ORIgyXyk (Embed)

Caption: : Song to help learn how fold mountains are formed, processes involved, types of fold and world mountain ranges.