14 ranges.
14 histories.
Explore how moving plates, faulting, volcanism, and erosion shaped these real landscapes.
Himalayas
Began forming approximately 50 million years ago; still actively rising today.
Andes
Formation began roughly 200 million years ago, with the modern range's major uplift occurring within the last 25 million years.
Rocky Mountains
Primary formation (the Laramide orogeny) occurred roughly 80–55 million years ago.
Appalachian Mountains
Began forming approximately 480 million years ago.
Alps
Began forming approximately 65 million years ago; still tectonically active.
Sierra Nevada
Uplift primarily over the last 5–10 million years (though the underlying rock, largely granite, is much older).
Cascades
The current volcanic arc has been active for roughly the last 5–7 million years, though volcanism in the region extends further back.
Black Hills
Uplift occurred roughly 65–70 million years ago.
Ural Mountains
Began forming approximately 300–250 million years ago.
Karakoram
Began forming alongside the Himalayas, roughly 50 million years ago.
Caucasus Mountains
Began forming roughly 28–23 million years ago.
Zagros Mountains
Began forming roughly 25–20 million years ago, with major uplift continuing into the last 5 million years.
Scandinavian Mountains
Began forming roughly 500–400 million years ago.
Southern Alps
Uplift primarily within the last 5–10 million years, and ongoing.