This article provides comprehensive coverage of the major mountain ranges of the world along with their highest peaks.
It also provides a free downloadable PDF map and important facts related to these mountain ranges, invaluable for competitive exams such as UPSC Prelims.
Major Mountain Ranges of the World
The table below provides a list of major mountain ranges of the world along with their Length, Highest Peaks, and Countries across which they are located in various continents.
| Mountain Ranges | Length (km) | Location (Countries) | Highest Peak (Height) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andes | 7,000 | South America (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina) | Mount Aconcagua (6961 m) |
| Rocky Mountains | 4,830 | North America (USA and Canada) | Mount Elbert (4401 m) |
| Great Dividing Range | 3,500 | Australia | Mount Kosciuszko (2228 m) |
| Atlas Mountains | 2,500 | Africa (Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia) | Mount Toubkal (4167 m) |
| Ural Mountains | 2,500 | Europe-Asia Border (Russia and Kazakhstan) | Mount Narodnaya (1894 m) |
| Appalachian Mountains | 2,414 | North America (USA and Canada) | Mount Mitchell (2037 m) |
| Himalayas | 2,400 | Asia (India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Pakistan) | Mount Everest (8849 m) |
| Altai Mountains | 2,000 | Asia (China, Mongolia, Russia, and Kazakhstan) | Belukha Mountain (4506 m) |
| Scandinavian Mountains | 1,700 | Europe (Sweden, Norway, and Finland) | Galdhøpiggen (2469 m) |
| Alps | 1,200 | Europe (France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia) | Mont Blanc (4809 m) |
| Drakensberg | 1,125 | Africa (South Africa and Lesotho) | Thabana Ntlenyana (3482 m) |
The Andes
- The Andes is the world’s longest continental mountain range, stretching about 7,000 km along the western coast of South America.
- It extends from north to south through seven South American countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.
- Mount Aconcagua (6,961 m), located in Argentina, is the highest peak in the Andes.
- The highest volcano in the world – Ojos del Salado (6,893 m) (active volcano) on the Chile-Argentina border lies on this range.
- The Lithium Triangle is a region of the Andes that is rich in lithium reserves. Three countries that are part of the Lithium Triangle are Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile.
Rocky Mountains
- The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, extend approximately 4,800 km from British Columbia in Canada to New Mexico in the USA.
- Mount Elbert(4,401 m), located in Colorado, USA, is the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains.
The Great Dividing Range
- The Great Dividing Range stretches over 3,500 km from north to south along the eastern coast of Australia.
- Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m) in New South Wales is the highest peak on the Australian mainland.
- Darling-Murray River system originates from this range.
Atlas Mountains
- The Atlas Mountains extend across North Africa, running approximately 2,500 km through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
- They are young fold mountains.
- They separate the Sahara Desert from the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines.
- Mount Toubkal (4,167 m), located in Morocco, is the highest peak in the Atlas Mountains.
Ural Mountains
- The Ural Mountains stretch approximately 2,500 km from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Ural River in the south.
- They pass through Russia and Kazakhstan.
- These mountains form part of the traditional boundary between the continents of Europe and Asia.
- Mount Narodnaya (1,894 m), located in Russia, is the highest peak in the Urals.
- These are old fold mountains.
- The Urals mountain region has been a major mineral base of Russia since the 18th century.
Appalachian Mountains
- Running parallel to the East Coast of North America, the Appalachians stretch over 2,400 km (USA and Canada).
- Formed over 480 million years ago, the Appalachians are very old fold mountains.
- Mount Mitchell (2,037 m), located in North Carolina, USA, is the highest peak.
The Himalayas
- Extending over 2,400 km, the Himalayas span across five countries – India, Nepal, Bhutan, China (Tibet), and Pakistan.
- Formed by the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate around 50 million years ago, these are very young fold mountains.
- The range has some of the Earth’s highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest (8,849 m).
- The Himalayas is home to more than 100 peaks exceeding elevations of 7,200 m.
- Bordered on the northwest by the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges, on the north by the Tibetan Plateau, and on the south by the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
- Often referred to as the “Water Tower of Asia” because they are the source of several major rivers, including the Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra, Yangtze, and Yellow River.
Altai Mountains
- Extending over 2,000 km, the Altai Mountains are located at the intersection of Russia, Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan.
- Mount Belukha (4,506 m), located in Russia near the Russia-Kazakhstan border, is the highest peak.
Scandinavian Mountains
- Also known as the Scandes, this range in Northern Europe extends through Norway, Sweden, and a small part of northern Finland.
- It stretches for approximately 1,700 km along the western side of the Scandinavian Peninsula.
- Galdhøpiggen (2,469 m), located in Norway, is the highest peak of this range.
The Alps
- The Alps extend approximately 1,200 km and span across eight European countries: France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, and Monaco.
- Formed around 30 million years ago as a result of the collision between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates.
- These are young fold mountains.
- The Alpine region contains over 125 peaks higher than 4,000 m.
- The highest peak in the Alps is Mont Blanc (4,809 m), located on the border between France and Italy.
Drakensberg
- It stretches for approximately 1,100 km across the eastern part of South Africa. Some part of it also lies in Lesotho.
- These are young fold mountains.
- Thabana Ntlenyana (3,482 m), located in Lesotho, is the highest peak in the Drakensberg Mountains.
