The mountains in our mystery country are not very high.
They are not nearly as high as the Himalayas (the mountain range with the tallest peaks in the world) or the Andes (the next highest mountain range in the world). They are not as high as peaks in the Rocky Mountains or the Cascade Mountains in the Western United States. They are not as high as Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa or Mount Taranaki in the Southern Alps of New Zealand.
But just because these mountains are not very high does not mean that it is easy for people to cross over them. The mountains are very rugged, and are filled with forests and wild animals, such as bears and wolves. And these mountains have no natural 'passes,' or easy places to cross the mountains.
How do you think these mountains (or others) affect the people who live near them?
Well, first, as you can tell from the paragraph above, mountains can be very difficult to cross. They may be hard to climb or may have ice or snow or glaciers that make travel dangerous. That means that crossing over mountains - to trade goods or to fight a war - can be tough to do. Sometimes, people who live surrounded by mountains feel very isolated from the world around them. It is just too difficult to cross over to other lands. The mountains in our mystery country are very difficult to cross, but they have not been a complete barrier. Our mystery country has been part of several empires over the last several thousand years. Armies from other countries and empires have been able to cross the mountains when they wanted to.
Another thing mountains can do is affect the climate of nearby lands. In some areas, mountains block rain, so that one side of a mountain range may be rainy and the other side may be a desert. Mountains' height may make for colder weather all year round. And that means that different plants and animals often live on mountains.
Some mountains are volcanoes. They can have a very serious effect on the lands and people around them when they erupt. People can get used to living near a volcano, but it is always a little dangerous. The mountain range in our mystery country does not have any volcanoes, but many mountain ranges in other places around the world do have volcanoes.
Mountains can also be places to play. Many people like to ski on mountains. Other people like to climb mountains. Still other people just like to visit mountains to take photos and admire their beauty. Many mountain towns around the world - including some towns in our mystery country - depend on these sportspeople to support them. People in the town provide food and lodging for tourists who come to enjoy the nearby mountains. That is certainly a form of trade.
Are there mountains near your home? How have they affected the way that people near you live? Do the mountains make travel difficult? Have they changed your climate? Or do they attract tourists? Are there any volcanoes near your home?
Please select a mountain range or a mountain peak anywhere in the world. Use the library or an encyclopedia to learn more about the mountain range or peak. Write a short paper about what you learn.
Check out past Trade Topics entries!
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