A landscape with a history.
Part of the same ancient mountain-building event — the Caledonian orogeny — that also built part of the Appalachian Mountains, before the Atlantic Ocean existed to separate them. When Pangaea later broke apart and the Atlantic opened, this single ancient mountain belt was split, leaving related rock and mountain remnants on both the North American and European/Scandinavian sides. A striking, concrete illustration of continental drift's real consequences.
What makes it remarkable
Galdhøpiggen (8,100 ft), Norway's highest point. Tectonically dormant, long past its active mountain-building phase.
Another skyline. Another story.
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.