mountains
Latest about mountains
![A lonely rider at Altay Mountains.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/R4hCqjVkeiXuQenXMa9MrS-320-80.jpg)
Boiling rocks from Earth's crust tore an ocean into Mongolia 410 million years ago
By Stephanie Pappas published
An ocean that opened up in what is now Mongolia 410 million years ago was created by a hot upwelling of rock known as a mantle plume.
![photo showing several snow covered peaks in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains in Colombia.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AMtZHrTWQ74s9Lryto9bG8-320-80.jpg)
'Roots' of Colombian mountains 'dripped' into the mantle millions of years ago — but the peaks still stand tall
By Sascha Pare published
Earth's crust once formed a dense "root" supporting Colombia's northern Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, but new research suggests this prop sank into the mantle millions of years ago.
![Beautiful sunset in the mountains of Passu Valley, Pakistan.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xaycNDmeyxpHDrPqU6LmaD-320-80.jpg)
How do mountains form?
By Charles Q. Choi published
Mountains form in a variety of ways, some of which geologists are now just starting to understand.
![A picture of snowy peaks in the Himalayan mountain system.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iTQskhQNBfwXbGcRpXSx2B-320-80.jpg)
A single massive tectonic collision? That's not how the Himalayas came to be, scientists say
By Sascha Pare published
The world's highest mountain system may have reached 60% of its current elevation before the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates crashed into each other, giving the peaks an extra push.
![mount everest](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YwvJNjbxczznuhoukpgbzJ-320-80.jpg)
Mt. Everest: Why Do People Keep Climbing It?
By Emily Sohn last updated
Despite tales of overcrowding, fighting and tragedy, hundreds of people continue to try to summit Everest every year. What's the appeal?
![Peak of Mount Everest above the clouds.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TqN49hraXUtnXfcKNbzUC4-320-80.jpg)
Air pressure makes Mount Everest 'shrink' by thousands of feet, new study finds
By Brandon Specktor last updated
Seasonal changes in air pressure sometimes make Mount Everest's "perceived elevation" to shrink by thousands of feet, a new study finds.
![Mount Everest](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ddznAc8UxXSrEVKtQEYUtW-320-80.jpg)
Is Mount Everest really the tallest mountain on Earth?
By Joe Phelan last updated
Other mountains could be considered Earth's tallest; it just depends how you measure them.
![rainfall, climate change](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kMu2dshXcoYgUYpYbGKXx7-320-80.jpg)
Light in Cloud Forests Can Outshine a Sunny Day
By Tia Ghose last updated
Cloud forests actually may see brighter light levels than sunny forest expanses, but despite this are surprisingly tolerant of drought, new research finds.
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