The role of tectonic plate movements in shaping mountain ranges

Mountain ranges influence climate by creating rain shadows, affecting precipitation patterns, per *Encyclopaedia Britannica*.

Tensional forces from plate divergence or lateral movement create faults, lifting blocks into fault-block mountains, per *National Geographic*.

The Atlas Mountains in North Africa formed due to the convergence of the African and Eurasian Plates, per *USGS*.

The Himalayas began forming 50 million years ago and reached significant height over ~40 million years, per *Encyclopaedia Britannica*.

The Laramide Orogeny, caused by shallow-angle subduction of the Farallon Plate under North America, formed the Rockies, per *National Geographic*.

Pangaea’s breakup, starting ~200 million years ago, drove plate movements that formed ranges like the Appalachians, per *USGS*.

Compression from converging plates folds and thrusts sedimentary layers upward, forming fold mountains like the Alps, per *Encyclopaedia Britannica*.

Subduction zones create volcanic mountain ranges, as oceanic crust subducts under continental crust, forming the Andes, per *USGS*.

The Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate, pushing up the Himalayas, per *National Geographic*.

Continental collision, or orogeny, occurs when two continental plates converge, buckling the crust to form mountain ranges, as seen in the Himalayas.