Transcript Mountains2

Today’s Learning Objectives:
1.
To understand more about Mountain
Environments.
2.
To know more about the animal, plant and human
life in Mountain Environments.
• Climate differs depending
on the part of the
mountain you are on. It
could be sunny and warm
on one side, and wet and
bitterly cold on the
other. Generally,
mountains get colder as
you ascend,
approximately dropping
0.6oc for every 100m
climbed.
• Above a certain level (known
as the snow line) conditions
are so cold that the mountain
is almost permanently covered
in snow and ice. Patches free
from snow and ice indicate
parts too steep for it to cling
to. Snow line height alters
depending on world location of
the mountain. At the poles it is
at sea level, in the tropics and
near the sea it can be as high
as 5,000m, and in the
European Alps it can be as low
as 2,700m.
The Himalayas (India)
•
The next set of slides will focus on what
lives on Mountains. You will know more
about:
1. Plant Life
2. Animal Life
• The upper slopes of mountains
are rugged and exposed. Only
the hardiest animals and
plants survive. There are
fewer species as altitude is
gained.
• Plants appear where soil
builds up in crevices. They are
usually small to reduce water
loss. A long root system helps
plants to maintain stability and
find water. Some plants are
brightly coloured to attract
insects.
• Plants that may be
found on mountains
include conifers, oak,
chestnut, maple,
junipers, stonecrops,
campions, mosses,
ferns and climbers.
A Mountain
Juniper
• Animals have to cope with the cold, bitter
winds, and steep and uneven slopes of
mountains. Many have thick coats to keep
warm, and they often survive by sheltering
in burrows, hibernating during the coldest
periods, or moving down to the lower
slopes for winter. Animals need to be
sure-footed to move about and reach
vegetation on the cliff edges. Many have
hooves or toes that move independently.
• Animals that may be
found on mountains
include goats, sheep,
camels, ibex, marmot,
snow leopard, llamas
and lizards.
A Mountain Ibex
• Birds must be strong
fliers to cope with the
strong and swirling
winds. They feed on
small mammals, seeds
and insects. Insects
blown up the mountains
by icy winds form
convenient frozen
food! Birds that can be
found in mountain areas
include eagles, falcons
and condors.
A Condor
• Mountain peoples
have learned to live in
steep, isolated, and
sometimes dangerous
landscapes. They
speak many different
languages, and follow
many different
traditions.
• Despite the hardships of
life in the mountains,
most mountain people
love their beautiful land.
Many young people leave
their homes to find better
jobs, but the mountains
are still in their hearts.
Today, some young
people are finding jobs
nearby as mountain
guides or shopkeepers,
helping tourists enjoy
their scenic mountain
homes.
Mountain Guides with Llamas