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Mountain
A mountain is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain in a limited area. A mountain is generally higher and steeper than a hill, but there is considerable overlap, and usage often depends on local custom. Mountains cover 54% of Asia, 36% of North America, 25% of Europe, 22% of South America, 17% of Australia, and 3% of Africa. As a whole, 24% of the Earth's land mass is mountainous. Also, 1 in 10 people live in mountainous regions. Mountains are generally given as heights above mean sea level. The Himalayas average 5 km above sea level, whilst the Andes average 4 km. Most other mountain ranges average 2-2.5 km. The highest mountain on Earth is Everest, 8,848 m, set in the world's most significant mountain range, the Himalaya. The altitude of mountains means that the tops exist in higher cold layers of the atmosphere.
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Earth & Climate News
March 18, 2026
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Mar. 5, 2026 A sweeping new study of more than 2,000 insect species reveals a troubling reality: many insects may be far less capable of coping with rising temperatures than scientists once hoped. Researchers found that while some species living at higher ...
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Mar. 15, 2026 A new detection method called “Jerk” could dramatically improve how scientists forecast volcanic eruptions. By using a single broadband ...
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Mar. 3, 2026 Fusion energy may be one of the most promising clean power sources of the future—but only if scientists can precisely measure the extreme, fast-moving plasmas that make it possible. A new U.S. ...
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