Earth is adorned with a diverse range of mountains, each with its own distinct characteristics. Some mountains are blanketed in lush, verdant forests, while others boast icy peaks veiled in snow. These lofty summits often experience extreme cold, with certain ranges exhibiting dry and arid conditions. Mountains serve as the birthplace of numerous rivers, further enhancing their importance in the natural landscape. Remarkably, mountains continue to take shape in the present day, evolving through volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and the movement of tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface.

Life in the mountains can be challenging, yet resilient communities thrive there. However, the absence of well-established infrastructure such as roads, shops, and hospitals poses significant difficulties for the inhabitants. People must rely on animals or their own feet for transportation, as cars cannot traverse the rugged terrain of the mountains. Moreover, at higher altitudes, the air becomes thin, necessitating acclimatization to the decreased oxygen levels.

Audiobook: 

In the mountains

CHAPTER ONE

Mountains

Mountains are high places on Earth. Earth has a crust. Earth's crust moves very, very slowly. It can move up and make mountains.

Mountains are very high. Mount Everest is about 8,850 meters high. Mountains are very old, too. Some mountains are millions of years old.

Volcanoes are mountains. A volcano is a hole in Earth's crust. Under Earth's crust, there's hot rock. The hot rock comes out of the volcano. Volcanoes can be dangerous.

CHAPTER TWO

People

Living in the mountains can be difficult for people. High in the mountains, there aren't any big roads. Some people don't have a car. They use animals for transportation.

High in the mountains, some people don't have electricity.

Look at this house. Now look at the mountains. They are the same color. People use rocks from the mountains to make their homes.

In the mountains, people grow food near their homes. Some people make terraces and they grow food there. On some terraces, there's lots of water. People grow rice in the water.

CHAPTER THREE

Animals

In the mountains, you can see amazing animals. Golden eagles live in the mountains in Asia, North America, Africa, and Europe. They make nests on high rocks.

Golden eagles have big wings. They can fly very high. They can see very well, too. They eat small animals. From high in the sky, they can see small animals on the ground.

Many mountain animals have thick fur. Their fur helps them to stay warm.

Snow leopards live in the mountains in Asia. They have big paws with lots of fur. This fur helps them to walk on snow and ice.

Alpacas Live in the mountains in South America. Some alpacas have very thick fur!

CHAPTER FOUR

Plants

Conifers are a type of tree. Conifers don't have big leaves. They have small needles. On some snowy mountains, there are lots of conifers. Conifers can grow in cold places.

Very high in the mountains, it's very cold and windy. Trees can't live there.

Some plants can live very high in the mountains, but they are small. There isn't much rain, so the plants have long roots. The roots find water under the ground.

Some mountain plants make strong buds. The buds can stay under the snow in winter. After the winter, the buds come out of the snow. Then the buds open.

CHAPTER FIVE

Ice and Snow

In the mountains, you can see rivers of ice! A river of ice is called a glacier.

What makes a glacier? In winter, lots of snow falls on the mountains. Then, new snow falls on the old snow and makes ice. The ice moves down the mountain in a glacier. Glaciers move very, very slowly.

In some glaciers, there are big crevasses. Crevasses are holes in the ice. Crevasses are dangerous. In snowy weather, people don't see a crevasse. Then they can fall in.

Avalanches are dangerous, too. In an avalanche, lots of snow falls from the mountain. It can fall on people.

CHAPTER SIX

Summer Sports

In summer, some people climb mountains. Climbers have a helmet and a rope.

Climbing is a difficult sport. Climbers have strong arms and legs. Climbers find good rocks for their hands and feet.

On some mountains, there's snow in summer!

Mountain biking is a summer sport. Mountain bikes have big, strong wheels. The wheels are good on rocks.

Rafting is a great summer sport. For rafting, people have a helmet and a lifejacket. Rafts are very strong. They can go over rocks in the water.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Winter Sports

Can you ski? Lots of children go skiing in the mountains in winter. They go with their family or with their school.

Snowboarding is a winter sporty, too. Snowboarding is difficult. Snowboarders fall in the snow a lot. Good snowboarders can do amazing tricks.

Do you like walking in the mountains? You can walk in snowshoes. Snowshoes are big so you can walk on the snow.

Sledding is a great sport. You can go very fast on a sled.

In the Olympic Games, sleds can go at 140 kilometers an hour!

CHAPTER EIGHT

Be Careful!

Mountains can be dangerous. You can fall or get lost. In the mountains helicopters come and help people.

The weather in the mountains can be nice and sunny, but it can be cloudy and rainy too. High in the mountains it is cold, so take warm clothes.

Take water when you walk in the mountains. Don't drink water from a river. Take food. It's good to eat cheese, bread, fruit, and chocolate. Take a map and a compass, too.

Have fun in the mountains, but be careful!

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