vuoristojärjestelmän

Vuoristojärjestelmä, or mountain range, is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. These geological features are formed by the interaction of Earth's tectonic plates. When plates collide, the crust can buckle and fold, pushing rock upwards to create mountains. Volcanic activity can also contribute to the formation of mountain ranges.

The formation of mountain ranges is a slow process that can take millions of years. Major mountain ranges are often found along the boundaries of continents, where the plates are actively interacting. Examples include the Himalayas, formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, and the Andes, created by the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate.

Mountain ranges have a significant impact on climate and weather patterns. They can act as barriers to air masses, influencing precipitation and temperature on either side. The elevation also leads to distinct ecological zones, with different types of flora and fauna adapted to the varying conditions at different altitudes. Erosion, primarily by water and ice, continuously shapes mountain ranges over geological time, creating valleys, canyons, and other distinctive landforms. These ranges are important sources of fresh water due to snowmelt and glaciers.