montes

Montes is a term with multiple uses. In Latin and Spanish, montes means mountains. In science, Montes is used as a technical designation in selenography to refer to mountain ranges on the Moon.

In lunar nomenclature, Montes is prefixed to the name of a range, such as Montes Apenninus, Montes Alpes, and Montes Taurus. These ranges occur mostly in the Moon's highland region and along the rims of large impact basins. They are typically long, rugged chains composed of ancient bedrock and cratered terrain. The IAU standardizes their names, often drawing on Latin geographical terms or on nearby lunar features. The study of these Montes helps scientists understand the Moon's early geological history, including crustal formation and subsequent impact events.

Outside astronomy, Montes is also a surname and a toponym in Spanish-speaking regions; it appears in various place names and personal names.

As a general term, Montes thus functions as both a linguistic root and a formal astronomical label for lunar terrain.