Today’s Learning Objectives:Today’s Learning Objectives:

1.1. To understand more about Mountain To understand more about Mountain Environments.Environments.

2.2. To know more about the animal, plant and human To know more about the animal, plant and human life in Mountain Environments.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