Mountains and Ranges, Volcanoes and Deserts

Mount Erebus

Second-highest volcano in Antarctica and the southernmost active volcano in the world. Air New Zealand jet crashed into the side in 1979, resulting in 257 fatalities

Mount Etna

Located in eastern Sicily and significant in ancient Greek myths. Associated with Zeus trapping the monster Typhon and Hephaestus's forges.

Mount Vesuvius

Active volcano on mainland Europe, last erupted in 1944. Notable for the 1908 eruption that led to the relocation of the 1908 Summer Olympics.

Mount Fuji

Aokigahara, known as the 'Suicide Forest,' is on its northwestern slope. Last erupted in December 1707 in the lava-less Hoei Eruption.

Kilauea

Most active shield volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. Primary craters include Halemaʻumaʻu, Puʻu, and Puʻu ʻOʻo.

Mauna Loa

Erupted in 1942, four months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Taller than Mount Everest when measured from base-to-summit.

Krakatoa

Located in the Sunda Strait between Sumatra and Java. Formed a new island ('Child of') in 1927.

Mount Rainier

Highest peak in the Cascades and in Washington state. Not erupted since the mid-to-late nineteenth century.

Mount Saint Helens

Located in the Cascades of Washington state. Most devastating eruption in U.S. history in May 1980.

Mount Everest

Local Sherpas act as guides for mountaineers. Khumbu Icefall and Three Steps are hazards for climbers.

K2

Known for the House's Chimney and the Black Pyramid features.

Denali

Highest mountain in North America, located in south-central Alaska. Frederick Cook's ascent in 1906 is believed to be faked.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Formed by a now-extinct volcano and has three summits. Tallest mountain in Africa, notable for being standalone.

Mount Kenya

Second-tallest mountain in Africa, located in Kenya. Bypassed the Darwin Glacier during the first ascent.

Mount Kosciuszko

Tallest mountain in Australia, named after a Polish commander. Peak's name in Aboriginal languages translates to 'table-top mountain'.

Mount Mitchell

Tallest peak in the U.S. east of the Mississippi, located in North Carolina. Part of the Black Mountain subrange of the Appalachians.

The Matterhorn

Located on the border between Switzerland and Italy near Zermatt. Renowned for its almost perfectly pyramidal shape.

Mount Aconcagua

Highest point in the Southern Hemisphere, near Mendoza in Argentina. Formed by the subduction of the Nazca Plate.

Antarctica

Largest desert

Sahara Desert

Berber and Tuareg people are home to this desert. It is dominated by rocky regions (hamada), sand seas (ergs), and salt flats (shatt) and dry river valleys (wadi) that are subject to flash floods.

Atacama Desert

War of the Pacific (1879-1883; Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia) that sought to control its nitrate resources, rain shadow of the Andes, which makes it the driest hot desert in the world.

Kalahari Desert

known for its red sand, large game reserves (meerkats, gemsbok, springbok, steenbok), and mineral deposits (notably uranium). Its San Bushmen speak a click language.

Mojave

bounded by the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountain ranges along the San Andreas and Garlock Faults. It is between the Great Basin and the Sonoran Desert, and it contains the lowest and driest point of North America

Gobi Desert

bounded on the north by the Altai Mountains. where fossilized dinosaur eggs have been found. bounded on the north by the Altai Mountains.

Rub' al-Khali

known for the world's largest oil field, the Ghawar, and for once being part of the frankincense trade.

Namib Desert

a coastal desert, is known for its bizarre Welwitschia and medicinal Hoodia plants.

Painted Desert

shared by Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest National Parks, is known for its colorful, banded rock formations.

Negev Desert

The triangular desert covers the southern half of Israel.

Taklamakan Desert

extremely cold, sandy desert known for splitting the Silk Road. bounded by the Kunlun, Pamir, and Tian Shan ranges

Great Sandy Desert

(Australia) Part of the Western Desert, and the ninth largest in the world.

Patagonian Desert

Largest desert in the Americas. The Perito Moreno Glacier is in the desert. Very cold and dry desert.

Black Rock Desert

a semi-arid region of lava beds and playa, or alkali flats.in the northern Nevada section of the Great Basin

Sonoran Desert

species like the saguaro cactus and Gila monster. It has two rainy seasons, In south arizona and baja california.

Chihuahuan Desert

Known for its agave and yucca plant species. Home to roadrunner and kit fox. Located primarily in Mexico.

Tabernas Desert

between the Sierra de los Filabres and Sierra de Alhamilla mountain ranges. Unique species like ocellated lizard and European fan palm. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966) was filmed here.

Thar Desert

The most densely populated desert. bordered by the Aravalli Range. Home to the Rajasthani people.

Great Victoria Desert

Home to the endangered bilby and various species of kangaroos. Known for its vast, sandy landscapes and rugged dunes. Largest desert in Australia.

Simpson Desert

Famous for its striking red sand dunes, some reaching heights of over 30 meters. Has occasional rainfall leading to vibrant wildflower blooms. Located in central Australia.

Karakum Desert

Extreme temp variations. Primarily in Turkmenistan.

The Alps

Les 3 Vallées in France is the largest ski resort here. Home to the Aletsch Glacier. Wildlife include Alpine ibex, which was once endangered. Tallest mountain is Mont Blanc.

Andes Mountains

The Salar de Uyuni - largest salt flat in this range. Home to the spectacled bear. Highest mountain is Mt. Aconcagua.

Appalacian Mountains

Home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park which has more than 19,000 documented species of plants and animals, including synchronous fireflies. Its peak is Mount Mitchell.

Atlas Mountains

Range home to the last remaining barbary macaques. The todra gorge is a feature in this range. Mount Toubkal is the highest point. (Morocco)

Carpathian Mountains

home to Europe's largest population of brown bears. contains the Transfăgărășan highway in Romania

Caucasus Mountains

Peak at Mount Elbrus, Has features like the "Door of Hell", located between the Black and Caspian sea

Drakensburg

mountain range in South Africa

Great Dividing Range

Tallest peak of Mount Kosciuszko. Range is home to Great Barrier Reef rainforest.

Himalayas

Has many Buddhist monasteries. Home to the snow leopard. Sources rivers like Brahmaputra, Indus and Ganga.

Kunlun Mountains

mountains located in the West of China that are the source of two of China's great rivers; the Yellow and the Yangtze

Rocky Mountains

Mount Elbert is its peak in Colorado. Home to Yellowstone National Park, and Old faithful, the largest super volcano in NA.

Taurus Mountains

Ancient city of Termessos was unconquered by Alexander the Great because of its high point in this southern Turkey range.

Tian Shan

mountain range that makes up most of Kyrgyzstan

Ural Mountains

This region is rich in minerals as its known as the stone belt of russia.