Major Mountain Ranges of the World & Highest Peaks [Map]

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.

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.