Here’s How Old The Appalachian Mountains Really Are
According to Mental Floss, the Appalachian Mountains cut through 18 American states and five Canadian provinces. Moreover, the area surrounding the mountains, known as the Appalachian Region, is home to 25 million people (via Appalachian Regional Commission). It also has a celebrated ecosystem that includes 140 species of trees, 250 species of birds, and so much more.
Besides housing a variety of wildlife, the region fuses different ethnic groups to create the diverse traditions and customs of the Appalachian people (per Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide). Although the term “Appalachian” refers to the entire mountain range, some of the more well-known sub-ranges include the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Per Explore Asheville, the highest peak of the Appalachian mountains can be found in North Carolina. However, scientists deduce that they were once as tall as the Himalayas (via West Virginia Public Broadcasting). Of course, this would have been in their early years, when they formed long before any human could catch sight of them.
The age of Appalachian Mountains is complicated
As the United States Geological Survey explains, the rocks at the core of the Appalachian mountains formed more than a billion years ago when North America and South America merged together. However, the mountains did not form at all once; they would pop up but erode over time (via Mental Floss). This cycle continued and as one mountain set crumbled another would emerge.
Today, the topography of the Appalachian Mountains is about 20 million years old. According to West Virginia Public Broadcasting, some areas of the Applachians are made up of rocks that are approximately 1.2 billion years old.
These, however, are not the oldest rocks on earth; those can be found in Canada and Greenland (at about 4 billion years old). Nonetheless, the Appalachian Mountains are distinct. Thanks to their continuing rebirth through their billion-year lifetime, they are simultaneously young and old.
With its vast beauty and fauna, one can enjoy the mountain’s offerings by hiking the Appalachian Trail. Per Discover Walks, it is said to be the longest in America. However, it’s also an incredibly difficult hike. Although 3 million people walk parts of the trail each year, only 10 to 15% of people who start make it through all the way.
75 thoughts on “Here’s How Old The Appalachian Mountains Really Are”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
The Surprising Distance Rene Descartes' Corpse Has Traveled
The Tragic True Story Of Heiress Ann Cooper Hewitt
Rules The Vatican's Swiss Guard Have To Follow
The Surprising Thing You Should Know About Bela Lugosi's Broadway Debut
The Untold Truth Of Jackie Chan's Drug Lord Mother
How Much Michael Jackson's Thriller Video Actually Cost
The World's First Functional Flying Car Has Arrived
The Surprising Reason America Could Potentially Collapse In Our Lifetime
Messed Up Things That Happened During The American Civil War
What Leaving Coins On Gravestones Really Means
Some genuinely good content on this website , appreciate it for contribution.