Fold Mountains

Fold Mountains

• Fold Mountains are created when two plates collide with each other.

• When two plates collide together, the heavier plate sinks .

• The lighter plate then buckles upwards creating a fold mountain.

• e.g The Andreas Mountains. The Nazca Plate (heavier) slipped under the South American Plate (lighter).

  

Periods of Folding

• Alpine Period: 30 to 35 million years ago

e.g. the Alps in Europe, the Andreas in South America, the Rockies in North America, the Himalayas in Asia.

The Alps:

· Long row of mountains

· Stretches across 7 European countries

· Formed 35 million years ago

· Formed during the Alpine folding period

· Formed when the African and Eurasian plates collided

• Armorican Period: 250 million years ago

e.g. MacGillycuddy’s Reeks

• Caledonian Period: 400 million years ago.

e.g Dublin-Wicklow Mountains