How Many Mountain Ranges Do You Know?

The Himalayas are home to some of the most uninhabitable areas of the world. Those who attempt to hike up to the highest peak (Mount Everest) have to train for months, and there are still people who don't make it back.

The Appalachian mountain chain is one of the oldest geological formations in the United States. Some scientists believe that it was formed around 480 million years ago. They used to be much higher in elevation as well before natural erosion occurred.

Many people don't realize that Nevada is one of the most mountainous states by square mileage in the United States. This is probably because the mountains in the southern part of the state are rather brown and rarely seen in tourism marketing.

There is natural protection between Spain and the rest of Europe. These mountains go nearly from coast to coast, just north of Barcelona. With peaks as high as 11,168 feet, there is no doubt that this system has protected Spain from some of Europe's most intense wars.

The Andes mountain range is one of the longest in the world, and it's one of the most varied. Through the range, you will find glaciers, volcanoes, deserts and lakes. Additionally, it spans over seven countries, including Chile, Argentina and Colombia.

The Urals are an expansive mountain range that runs north to south through Russia, and at their northernmost point, they reach the Arctic Ocean. They aren't incredibly high, with their elevation only reaching about 6,217 feet at the highest point.

The Balkans, like many mountain ranges in the world, are fold mountain ranges. This means that they were created when two tectonic plates collided and made the Earth rise. The Balkans are among the youngest found in the world.

These mountains are very woody and contain a variety of woodland creatures, including bears. The Carpathian Mountains are also found in Poland and Slovakia. The portion that is in Poland is considered a National Park and is protected by the government.

Before the days of advanced military techniques, the Apennine Mountains were a natural barrier that protected Rome from outside attacks, especially land attacks. They were so effective because they are made of two parallel mountain chains.

The Smoky Mountains, while connected to the Appalachian Range, have a history all their own. Great Smoky Mountain National Park was the first-ever national park that was federally funded (partially) in the U.S.

While several mountain ranges and systems go through Europe and some continue to Russia or Asia, the Alps are the longest and highest mountain range that is only in Europe. It is approximately 1,200 kilometers across eight European countries.

There are several mountainous regions in India, and the Western Ghats are one of them. They are found along the western coastline of the country, running nearly the entire length of the country.

The Hindu Kush system stretches 500 miles through Central Asia. What many people don't realize is that this mountain system supplies most of Asia's water, as it is a huge watershed system.

If you're looking for one of the longest mountain chains in Asia, you needn't look any further than the Kunlun Mountains. They expand more than 3,000 kilometers and reach elevations of 23,514 feet.

Karakoram is also home to the largest and longest glaciers in the world, outside of the polar regions. It goes the length of the borders of Pakistan, India and China and extends into Afghanistan.

The mountainous region of America's Pacific Northwest has both volcanic peaks and non-volcanic peaks. However, there are several volcanoes in this region, many of them active, including Mount Rainier.

America's very own purple mountains majesty actually span from Canada to the state of New Mexico. The highest elevation is found at Pikes Peak in Colorado, reaching over 14,000 feet.

Pushing 11,000 feet, the Dolomites of northeastern Italy are some of the most beautiful mountains in the world with natural mountain lakes and wooded areas surrounding them. They are also home to several geological structures.

As it turns out, Iran, Iraq and southeastern Turkey have something in common: The Zagros Mountains. This range is incredibly long, and parts of it are in all three countries. Iran is home to the tallest peak in this range: Zard-Kuh.

While we often think of the desert when we think of Africa, there are actually quite a few mountain regions. The Rwenzori Mountains can be found in Uganda, almost in the direct center of the continent.

Mountain lovers probably know that Mount Elbrus is the highest peak you can find in Europe, and it's found in the Caucasus Mountains. Mount Elbrus reaches a staggering 18,510 feet.

Every continent has at least one mountain range, and Australia is no different. The Great Dividing Range is Australia's largest and the fifth-longest mountain range in the world (on land, we aren't counting mountains here).

Even though it separates East and West Antarctica, the Transantarctic Mountains range doesn't cut the continent entirely in half. They are more toward the west, making East Antarctica considerably larger.

The Green Mountains in Vermont helped name the state itself. When French explorer Samuel de Champlain first saw them, he named them on the map "Verd Mont" or green mountain. It wasn't much of a stretch to put the two words together to create the name of the state.

The Dinarides are also known as the Dinaric Alps. They actually border on the Julian Alps in the very mountainous regions of Slovenia. They can also be found in Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia.

The Alaska Range might be one of the most narrow mountain ranges you can find in the world, but it also is home to the highest mountain in North America: Denali at 20,308 feet high.

You may recognize the Tian Shan mountain range in Central Asia as the large mountainous region on topographic maps. The elevation of these mountains is highest at Jengish Chokusu, reaching 7,439 meters.

While many mountains are formed when two tectonic plates collide, the Vindhya Range was formed with three tectonic plates collided in an area of India. They are a smaller mountain range, with the highest peak reaching only 2,467 feet.

The Atlas mountain range expands across Northern Africa and is made of several different mountain chains. It separates the Sahara Desert from the Mediterranean coastline and has several different terrains and climates across the range itself.

The Alborz Mountain Range goes by many names, including Alburz, Elburz and Elborz. It can be found in Northern Iran and stretches across the entire coast of the Caspian Sea as well as the border of Azerbaijan.

The Altai (or Altay) Mountain Range is a part of multiple countries, including Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan. The headwaters of both Irtysh and Ob rivers can be found on this mountain range.

Extending only 200 kilometers, the Japanese Alps are a mountain range found on the island of Honshu, the main island of Japan. While their name isn't necessarily creative, it stuck after William Gowland called them that.

As a part of the Southern Limestone Alps, the Julian Alps are found in northern Italy and Slovenia. The largest peak on this range is Triglav, coming in at just over 9,000 feet high.

In northern Greece and southern Albania, you will find the Pindus Mountains. This range runs down the Greece, parallel to the coastline, and many in the area call it the spine of Greece.

In the Japanese Alps, you can find the Hida Mountain range. This range can be found on the main island of Japan and has several major peaks, including Mount Tate, Mount Yari and Mount Norikura.