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Mountains as we know them were formed by a wide range of processes. This vivid introduction explains the course of orogeny (mountain formation) and the resulting structures, the cycles of plate tectonics and the evolution of landforms. It also presents surprising findings from the latest research. Popular travel destinations are described in detail – ideal when preparing for a trip – while a wealth of photos and graphics illustrate the text. Why are mountains as tall as they are? How does high-pressure rock come to the surface? Is there feedback between tectonics and the climate? How can mountains form without continental collision, far away from any plate boundaries? And how do we know all this? These and many other questions will be answered.
1. The structure of mountains
2. The cycle of rocks
3. Moving plates
4. Mountains over subducting plates: subduction zones
5. Lateral shifts with complications
6. The roof of the world: High mountains in Asia
7. Great rifts and hot spots
8. The Alps and their siblings
Florian Neukirchen is a geoscientist and non-fiction author. After completing his studies in Freiburg, he worked on alkaline rocks at the University of Tubingen. Research trips led him to Oldoinyo Lengai in Tanzania, through the High Atlas in Morocco and to the Ilimaussaq intrusion in Greenland. On his travels around the world he has visited many mountain ranges, climbed quite a few peaks or carried a backpack and camera on long-distance treks to capture the best views. He currently lives and writes in Berlin. He has published The World of Mineral Deposits (2020), as well as several books on geology in German.
