Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology => Topic started by: neilep on 01/10/2007 22:46:41
-
Dear Hill & Mountain Dwellers (attention all goats too !)
Here are two piccys ...one of a hill ...the other.....a mountain !!..like Duhhhh !!!!
I have labeled them for the very confused (That's me !!)
[ Invalid Attachment ]
[ Invalid Attachment ]
When does a hill become a mountain then ?...is there an internationally ratified definition of the differences ?
I want to know...but I don't want to make a mountain out of a mole hill !! *oh groaaaaan*
I just don't know !!!...do ewe ?
-
I'm not sure there is an actual universal definition of mountains and hills but i think it has something to do with a mountain being more sheer than a hill and also a mountain usually has an identifiable summit. In the UK at least i think it has to be over 1000 ft see the movie "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain" as a reference
-
I'm not sure there is an actual universal definition of mountains and hills but i think it has something to do with a mountain being more sheer than a hill and also a mountain usually has an identifiable summit. In the UK at least i think it has to be over 1000 ft see the movie "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain" as a reference
Why THANK EWE Lazy_Genius (see ?...you're not so lazy after all!!)
I'll have to get that DVD...or , I suppose I could just read wikis entry on it...I bet it's there !!
hang On !! *twenty seconds later*...yep...there it is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Englishman_Who_Went_Up_a_Hill_But_Came_Down_a_Mountain
Thank ewe also for your academical comments too.
-
Here is a little info from:
http://geography.about.com/library/faq/blqzmtnheight.htm
What's the difference between a hill and a mountain?
Unfortunately, there is no universally accepted standard definition for the height of a mountain or a hill although a mountain usually has an identifiable summit. In the United Kingdom, a mountain must be over 600 meters (1969 feet) or over 300 meters (984 feet) if it's an abrupt difference in the local topography. However, some hills can be called mountains and some mountains can be called hills - it's just a matter of the original name given to the relief.
This is from the 1969 Random House unabridged Dictionary. It said that a hill is
"a natural elevation of the earth's surface, smaller than a mountain," while a mountain is "a natural elevation of the earth's surface rising more or less abruptly to a summit, and attaining an altitude greater than that of a hill." LOL Their 1987 second edition, it changes somewhat stating that a "Hill stays the same, but a mountain is now a natural elevation, etc, "attaining an altitude greater than 2,000 feet."
That is all well and good but it later says and mentions these "Notable Mountain Peaks of the World." Mount Carmel, Israel, which is measured at 1818 feet. Many of the so-called mountains in the Ozarks are similar in this smaller size begging that perhaps if we listen to CECIL ADAMS studies here we might consider her thoughts as such after much study she has done....
she says, "Perhaps we should say that anything over 2,000 feet is automatically a mountain, but peaks under 2,000 feet may qualify if they (1) are steep, (2) have rocky sides, or (3) have the word "Mount" in their names. Of course, this doesn't help us out with the Black Hills of South Dakota, which reach a height of 4,000 feet above the surrounding country but don't qualify for an upgrade in nomenclature. But it's the best I can do for now."
I think her above ideas are a pretty good way of explaining the differences!
-
My friend Mary wants me to go to her mothers cabin with her up in the Black hills of south Dakota.. I think it might be a good place to be when my time comes one day! It sounds glorious!
-
My friend Mary wants me to go to her mothers cabin with her up in the Black hills of south Dakota.. I think it might be a good place to be when my time comes one day! It sounds glorious!
You may not think so in January (brrrrrr)
Don't know about turning hills into mountains (I suppose it's possible), but mountains are always trying to become hills. (making a mole-hill out of a mountain)
I think local nomenclature defines 'hills' vs 'mountains'. Then there's buttes and mesas and all sorts of other elevated geographic terrains???
-
Pretty cold eh! LOL She talks about it a lot I believe it must be extremely beautiful!
-
I think a hill becomes a mountain
1) if you are an estate agent trying to sell it or
2)If it's somewhere like Holland, where a decent compost heap looks like a major geological feature.
(OK, no offense meant there to all our Dutch friends- England barely has any decent hills either. the best we can do is this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scafell_Pike)
Seriously, I think it's a matter of how big it is relative to the other things round it.
-
Seriously, I think it's a matter of how big it is relative to the other things round it.
So a bump in Cumbria becomes a mountain in fenland [:D]
-
when you are just too tired to climb any further
-
HERE HERE!!! LOL