Todays Learning Objectives:

1
Todays Learning Objectives
Mountain Environments

• To understand more about Mountain Environments.
• To know more about the animal, plant and human
  life in Mountain Environments.

2
Climate (Weather)

• Climate differs depending on the part of the
  mountain you are on.  It could be sunny and warm
  on one side, and wet and bitterly cold on the
  other.  Generally, mountains get colder as you
  ascend, approximately dropping 0.6oc for every
  100m climbed. 

3
Climate (Continued)

• Above a certain level (known as the snow line)
  conditions are so cold that the mountain is
  almost permanently covered in snow and ice. 
  Patches free from snow and ice indicate parts too
  steep for it to cling to.  Snow line height
  alters depending on world location of the
  mountain.  At the poles it is at sea level, in
  the tropics and near the sea it can be as high as
  5,000m, and in the European Alps it can be as low
  as 2,700m.

The Himalayas (India)
4
What lives on Mountains?

• The next set of slides will focus on what lives
  on Mountains. You will know more about
• Plant Life
• Animal Life

5
Plant Life on Mountains

• The upper slopes of mountains are rugged and
  exposed.  Only the hardiest animals and plants
  survive.  There are fewer species as altitude is
  gained.
• Plants appear where soil builds up in crevices. 
  They are usually small to reduce water loss.  A
  long root system helps plants to maintain
  stability and find water.  Some plants are
  brightly coloured to attract insects.  

6
Types of Plants

• Plants that may be found on mountains include
  conifers, oak, chestnut, maple, junipers,
  stonecrops, campions, mosses, ferns and climbers.

A Mountain Juniper
7
Animal Life on Mountains

• Animals have to cope with the cold, bitter winds,
  and steep and uneven slopes of mountains.  Many
  have thick coats to keep warm, and they often
  survive by sheltering in burrows, hibernating
  during the coldest periods, or moving down to the
  lower slopes for winter.  Animals need to be
  sure-footed to move about and reach vegetation on
  the cliff edges.  Many have hooves or toes that
  move independently.

8
Types of Animals

• Animals that may be found on mountains include
  goats, sheep, camels, ibex, marmot, snow leopard,
  llamas and lizards.

A Mountain Ibex
9
Bird Life

• Birds must be strong fliers to cope with the
  strong and swirling winds.  They feed on small
  mammals, seeds and insects.  Insects blown up the
  mountains by icy winds form convenient frozen
  food!  Birds that can be found in mountain areas
  include eagles, falcons and condors.

A Condor
10
Do Humans live there?

• Mountain peoples have learned to live in steep,
  isolated, and sometimes dangerous landscapes.
  They speak many different languages, and follow
  many different traditions.

11
Mountain Life

• Despite the hardships of life in the mountains,
  most mountain people love their beautiful land.
  Many young people leave their homes to find
  better jobs, but the mountains are still in their
  hearts. Today, some young people are finding jobs
  nearby as mountain guides or shopkeepers, helping
  tourists enjoy their scenic mountain homes.

Mountain Guides with Llamas