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Quizzes > Quizzes for Business > Environment

Test Your Mountain Geography Knowledge Quiz

Discover Peaks, Valleys and Patterns in This Quiz

Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting mountains for a geography knowledge quiz.

Dive into this mountain geography quiz to test your knowledge of peaks, elevation, and landscape features in a fun, interactive format. Ideal for geography students and mountain enthusiasts, the quiz covers topographic map interpretation and climate variation in mountainous regions. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of mountain landscapes and improve their map skills. Plus, every question is fully customizable - you can tweak content freely in our editor to tailor the challenge. Afterward, explore more quizzes, try our Regional Geography Knowledge Quiz, or delve into the Geology and Geography Knowledge Quiz.

Which mountain range contains Mount Everest, the Earth's highest peak?
Himalayas
Andes
Rockies
Alps
Mount Everest is part of the Himalayas, which formed from the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. No other mountain range on Earth contains a higher peak.
Fold mountains, such as the Appalachian Mountains, are primarily formed by what process?
Oceanic-continental subduction
Continental-continental convergence
Divergent plate spreading
Transform fault motion
Fold mountains develop where two continental plates collide and compress sedimentary layers. This convergence forces rock strata to buckle and fold, creating mountain chains.
What term describes a line on a topographic map connecting points of equal elevation?
Elevation line
Contour line
Scale line
Benchmark line
Contour lines represent constant elevation on topographic maps, allowing readers to visualize terrain height. They never cross and indicate slope steepness by their spacing.
Which North American mountain range is known as the "Backbone of North America"?
Sierra Nevada
Rockies
Appalachians
Cascades
The Rocky Mountains, often called the Backbone of North America, extend from Canada to New Mexico. This range dominates the continental interior landscape.
On a topographic map, closely spaced contour lines indicate what type of terrain?
Gentle slope
Flat area
Steep slope
Depression
When contour lines are close together, elevation changes rapidly over a short distance, indicating a steep slope. Widely spaced lines indicate more gradual terrain.
The Andes Mountains are primarily formed by which tectonic process?
Continental-continental collision
Oceanic-continental subduction
Oceanic-oceanic subduction
Transform fault
The Andes arise from the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate. This oceanic-continental collision triggers volcanic and crustal uplift along the margin.
What phenomenon causes wetter conditions on the windward side of a mountain and drier conditions on the leeward side?
Rain shadow effect
El Niño
Thermohaline circulation
Solar radiation
As moist air rises over a mountain, it cools and precipitates on the windward slope. The leeward side receives descending dry air, creating a rain shadow and often arid conditions.
The maximum altitude at which trees can grow is known as the:
Snow line
Alpine zone
Tree line
Frigid zone
The tree line marks the elevation above which environmental conditions - especially cold temperatures - prevent tree growth. Above this line lies alpine tundra.
Which feature is characteristic of fault-block mountains?
Folded sedimentary layers
Volcanic cones
Tilted blocks bounded by normal faults
Dome-shaped uplift
Fault-block mountains form when crustal blocks move along normal faults, creating tilted blocks. Uplifted blocks form ranges while adjacent down-dropped blocks form basins.
Which erosion process involves the repeated freezing and thawing of water in rock cracks?
Chemical weathering
Abrasion
Frost wedging
Hydrolysis
Frost wedging occurs when water seeps into fractures, freezes, and expands, exerting pressure that breaks rock apart. This mechanical weathering is common in mountain climates.
On a topographic map, a V-shaped contour pattern typically indicates:
Ridge
River valley
Plateau
Hilltop
V-shaped contours point upstream toward higher elevations and outline river valleys. The sharper the V, the more pronounced the valley.
Volcanic mountain ranges like the Cascade Range form at which type of plate boundary?
Divergent oceanic
Convergent ocean-continent
Transform
Convergent continent-continent
The Cascades result from the subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate beneath the North American Plate. This convergent boundary produces volcanism along the continental margin.
Which biome is typically found at the highest elevations in mountainous regions?
Deciduous forest
Alpine tundra
Tropical rainforest
Temperate grassland
Alpine tundra occurs above the tree line, characterized by low temperatures, short growing seasons, and specialized vegetation. It is the highest elevation biome.
In topographic maps, a closed contour loop with hachure (tick) marks indicates a:
Hilltop
Depression
Plateau
Sinkhole
Hachure or tick marks on contour loops point toward lower elevations, marking a depression in the terrain. Without hills or peaks, these loops indicate an indentation.
The Himalayan mountain range was formed by which type of plate boundary?
Oceanic-oceanic subduction
Continental-continental collision
Oceanic-continental subduction
Transform fault
The Himalayas arose when the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate, a continental-continental convergence. No significant subduction of oceanic crust is involved.
If the environmental lapse rate is approximately 6.5°C per 1,000 meters, what would be the expected temperature at 3,000 meters elevation if the sea-level temperature is 20°C?
0.5°C
-5°C
2°C
5°C
With a lapse rate of 6.5°C per 1,000 m, temperature drops 19.5°C over 3,000 m. Subtracting 19.5°C from 20°C yields approximately 0.5°C at that elevation.
A mountain range uplift is measured at 4 mm per year. Approximately how much uplift occurs over a million years?
400 meters
4,000 meters
40,000 meters
4 meters
At 4 mm per year, over one million years the total uplift is 4,000,000 mm, which converts to 4,000 meters. This linear extrapolation assumes constant rates.
What is the term for a flat-topped mountain or hill with steep sides, often formed by erosion of surrounding rock layers?
Mesa
Butte
Plateau
Hogback
A mesa is an elevated area of flat land with steep sides, formed when harder rock layers protect the top from erosion. Buttes are smaller remnants of mesas.
On a topographic profile, the vertical exaggeration distorts which aspect of the terrain?
Horizontal distances
Elevation differences
Map orientation
Magnetic declination
Vertical exaggeration stretches the vertical scale relative to the horizontal, making elevation changes appear larger than in reality. Horizontal distances remain unchanged.
In a river's longitudinal profile through mountainous terrain, a sharp change in slope known as a knickpoint is often caused by:
Vegetation growth
Resistant rock layer
Increased sediment supply
Human irrigation
Knickpoints occur where a more resistant rock layer slows down erosion, creating a sudden break in the river's slope. Water erodes softer rock faster, leaving the resistant layer exposed.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify major mountain ranges and their defining features
  2. Analyse tectonic processes that shape mountain landscapes
  3. Evaluate the impact of elevation on climate and ecosystems
  4. Apply topographic map skills to locate mountain landforms
  5. Demonstrate understanding of mountain formation and erosion
  6. Master interpretation of elevation profiles in geography

Cheat Sheet

  1. Collisional Mountain Range Formation - When two tectonic plates crash into each other, they squeeze and uplift Earth's crust to build colossal ranges like the Himalayas. This long-lasting collision reshapes landscapes and fuels dramatic geological activity. nps.gov
  2. Fault-Block Mountains - In regions like the Basin and Range Province, crustal stretching creates huge blocks that tilt and drop along normal faults, forming alternating mountains and valleys. This process paints a striking, jagged skyline. nps.gov
  3. Volcanic Mountain Building - At subduction zones, one plate dives beneath another, melts into magma, and sparks volcanic eruptions that pile up cones and plateaus, as seen in the Cascade Range. These fiery giants keep evolving with each eruption. nps.gov
  4. Mountain-Climate Interactions - Towering ranges like the Himalayas shape monsoon winds, creating lush weather patterns on one side and arid rain shadows on the other. These climate effects drive unique ecosystems and weather extremes. Wikipedia
  5. Orogeny and Crustal Thickening - Orogeny describes the structural deformation and thickening of Earth's crust under relentless tectonic forces, crafting folded peaks and deep roots. It's the behind-the-scenes action that births every mountain chain. Wikipedia
  6. Geology of the Rocky Mountains - Born during the Laramide orogeny, the Rockies reveal a complex history of plate interactions, uplift, and erosion that sculpted their high plateaus and sharp ridges. Studying them unveils Earth's ancient secrets. Wikipedia
  7. Erosion and Glaciation - Wind, water, and ice tirelessly carve mountains into jagged peaks and U-shaped valleys, leaving behind polished cirques and striated rock faces. Glacial sculpting turns any peak into a dramatic masterpiece. TeacherFriendlyGuide.org
  8. Reading Topographic Maps - Contour lines on topo maps reveal elevation changes and landform shapes, helping you pinpoint ridges, saddles, and valleys. Mastering these maps turns you into a terrain-detective! TeacherFriendlyGuide.org
  9. The Continental Divide - Running along the crest of the Rockies, this divide sends water either toward the Pacific or the Atlantic, defining continental watersheds. It's Earth's own hydrological highway splitter. TeacherFriendlyGuide.org
  10. Isostatic Rebound - As erosion strips weight from mountains, the crust bounces back upward like a sponge, subtly reshaping landscapes over thousands of years. This "rocky rebound" keeps even old ranges lively. nps.gov
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