Tömbhegységek

Tömbhegységek, meaning "block mountains" in Hungarian, are a type of mountain range formed by tectonic forces. These forces cause large blocks of the Earth's crust to be uplifted or tilted. Unlike folded mountains, which are created by compression and bending of rock layers, block mountains are characterized by faulting. Imagine a giant puzzle where the pieces are not just pushed together but also cracked and moved vertically or horizontally along these cracks.

The formation of block mountains typically involves extensional forces, where the crust is being pulled apart. This pulling can cause the land to fracture into numerous blocks. Some of these blocks, known as horsts, are pushed upwards or remain relatively stable, forming the mountain ranges. Conversely, adjacent blocks, called grabens, sink downwards, creating valleys or basins between the mountains. This process results in a landscape of parallel mountain ridges separated by deep valleys.

Erosion then plays a significant role in shaping the block mountains, sculpting their surfaces and further defining the rugged topography. Examples of areas where block mountain formations are prominent include parts of the Basin and Range Province in the western United States, the Vosges Mountains in France, and the Black Forest in Germany. These landscapes often exhibit steep fault scarps, which are the exposed cliffs formed by the movement along faults. The geological processes involved in their creation are fundamental to understanding tectonic activity and landscape evolution.