Moving Up Mountains Trivia Quiz

Answer: Summit

Technically the summit is the highest one point of any mountain. Over time, however, the term has become more synonymous with "peak", which is the point of the mountain which is higher than the other points that are nearby. Other terms used for a summit can be "apex" or "acme".

Answer: Plateau

The largest plateau in the world is the Tibetan Plateau in Asia, which has been described as the "roof of the world". It covers approximately 970,000 square miles and is 16,000 feet above sea level. A plateau can also be called a high plain or tableland, and a smaller plateau is called a mesa or a butte.

Answer: Range

Other names for a mountain range can be a mountain system or mountain belt; mountain ranges consist of several features that are connected. There are three different types of mountain ranges that are formed as the result of plate tectonics: volcanic mountains (Mount Etna) are formed when one plate is pushed beneath another, fold mountains (Himalayas) emerge when two plates collide, and block mountains (Eastern African Rift) are formed by faults in the earth's crust.

Answer: Spire

Also called a needle, pinnacle, or hoodoo, a spire is found in formations where soft rock that is more easily eroded is covered by harder rock. Although both spires and hoodoos are tall and narrow rock formations, a spire is typically smoother and more uniform in size, while a hoodoo is described as being similar in shape to a totem pole.

Answer: Glacier

Glaciers form over hundreds of years when snow begins to accumulate and turn into ice. Even though they may be most closely associated with the North and South Poles, glaciers are found in every mountain range in the world - except for those in Australia! It is estimated that about 10% of the earth's surface is covered by glaciers.

Answer: Pass

Many of the world's mountain ranges are pretty tough to cross, so finding passes through a range is pretty important for trade, travel, and communication. The largest mountain pass in the world that is accessible to vehicles, the Mana Pass, is located on the border between India and China in the Himalayas.

Answer: Tree Line

Usually trees cannot live above the tree line due to extremely cold temperatures or lack of moisture; even at the tree line, it is difficult for trees to grow. There are many different types of tree lines. For example, an alpine tree line is the highest elevation where trees can live, and a desert tree line is the driest place where trees can still grow.

Answer: Elevation

While the term elevation is defined as the height above or below a certain point, it is commonly considered to be the height above sea level. Is it the same as altitude? Both terms are used interchangeably, however, elevation is technically the height above sea level, and altitude is the vertical distance above a reference point, which may or may not be sea level.

Answer: Gully

A gully is usually created by the erosion caused by running water in places where there isn't enough vegetation to keep the erosion from taking place. This can especially happen during severe thunderstorms. Gullies come in a variety of sizes. For example, a deep gorge would be called a canyon, and a gulch, while smaller than a canyon, is larger than a gully.

Answer: Avalanche

Many different events - some natural and some artificial - can cause an avalanche. New snowfall can cause accumulated snow to slide down a mountain; earthquakes and the movements of animals can have the same effect. Artificial triggers of avalanches can include snowmobiles, skiers, and gunshots. Avalanches are most common during the winter and spring when snow is more likely to be falling. Avalanches of rocks are also called rock slides.