Mountains: Earth's Mighty Sculptures

Mountains are formed through tectonic forces or volcanism. These processes push the Earth's surface upwards over periods spanning millions of years, resulting in spectacular landforms reaching for the skies.

Mount Everest, at 8,848 meters, is the world's highest peak. However, Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano in Hawaii, measures over 10,000 meters from base to peak when measured from the seafloor.

Mountains are biodiversity hotspots, home to almost half of the world's biodiversity hotspots and a quarter of all terrestrial biodiversity, including many endemic species that found nowhere else on Earth.

Mountains play a crucial role in climate and weather patterns, acting as sentinels for climate change. Their glaciers and snowpacks supply fresh water to billions, yet are rapidly retreating.

The Quechua people of the Andes have adapted to high altitudes with larger lungs, hearts, and spleen capacities. Their blood has a higher red cell count improving oxygen flow.

Despite their solid appearance, mountains are constantly moving. The Indian Plate continues to move northward into Asia, causing the Himalayas to rise about 1 centimeter per year.

Venezuela's tabletop mountains, called tepuis, are so isolated that unique species evolve atop them. They're thought to be the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The Lost World'.

Some mountains are moving faster than tectonic plates, shifting due to gravity and landslides at over 30 centimeters per year.