Which mountain range is an example of a continental-continental collision?

Which mountain range is an example of a continental-continental collision?

• A. The Rockies
• B. The Andes
• C. The Himalayas formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates
• D. The Alps formed by oceanic-oceanic collision

Answer: (C)

The Himalayas are a perfect example of a continental-continental collision. This mountain range was formed when the Indian plate collided with the Eurasian plate, resulting in significant geological uplift and the creation of some of the highest peaks on Earth, including Mount Everest. In a continental-continental collision, neither plate is subducted because both are relatively buoyant and thick, leading to intense folding, faulting, and mountain building rather than one plate sinking beneath the other. In contrast, the Rockies and the Andes are primarily associated with different tectonic processes, such as subduction of oceanic plates leading to volcanic activity and the formation of mountain ranges. The Alps, while another significant mountain range, are not the result of a collision between continental plates but instead have a more complex tectonic history involving oceanic-continental interactions. Thus, the Himalayas stand out as a clear example of the process and result of a continental-continental collision.

The Himalayas are a perfect example of a continental-continental collision. This mountain range was formed when the Indian plate collided with the Eurasian plate, resulting in significant geological uplift and the creation of some of the highest peaks on Earth, including Mount Everest. In a continental-continental collision, neither plate is subducted because both are relatively buoyant and thick, leading to intense folding, faulting, and mountain building rather than one plate sinking beneath the other.

In contrast, the Rockies and the Andes are primarily associated with different tectonic processes, such as subduction of oceanic plates leading to volcanic activity and the formation of mountain ranges. The Alps, while another significant mountain range, are not the result of a collision between continental plates but instead have a more complex tectonic history involving oceanic-continental interactions. Thus, the Himalayas stand out as a clear example of the process and result of a continental-continental collision.