. Elementary physical geography . Fig. mountain gorge in the high Andes of Peru. that have been broken or faulted down. Where these val-leys occur between peaks and ridges, forming amphitheatersamong the mountains, they produce a characteristic valley,which among the Rocky Mountains is given the name ofpark (Fig. 221). Occasionally the streams have carved mountain gorges,and even in some cases have cut entirely across the ridges,forming valleys which are characterized by remarkably steep-sided gorges (Fig. 144). They furnish some of the most PLATEAUS AND MOUNTAINS. asy striking bits of m
. Elementary physical geography . Fig. mountain gorge in the high Andes of Peru. that have been broken or faulted down. Where these val-leys occur between peaks and ridges, forming amphitheatersamong the mountains, they produce a characteristic valley,which among the Rocky Mountains is given the name ofpark (Fig. 221). Occasionally the streams have carved mountain gorges,and even in some cases have cut entirely across the ridges,forming valleys which are characterized by remarkably steep-sided gorges (Fig. 144). They furnish some of the most PLATEAUS AND MOUNTAINS. asy striking bits of mountain scenery, and in traveling across amountain riclge upon a railroad, one is often carried throughthese gorges, which furnish the sole means of easy passagefor the railroad (Figs. 134 and 222). Low points in moun-tain ridges are known as passes. Sometimes these aremerely parts of the mountain which were not folded sohigh as other portions; but in many cases they are valleys. Fig. 223. Mount of the Holy Cross, Colorado — above the timber line. at the headwaters of streams. Two streams head togetherin a mountain ridge, and these lower the ridge at thispoint, producing a gap, which is usually taken advantageof as a means of passage across the mountains. Mountains in their best development are extraordinarilyrugged. They rise in a series of slopes, sometimes moder-ate, but at other times very precipitous. They are cut by 360 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. valleys which are often bounded by true precipices. Thehard rocks stand up precipitously, while the softer stratafurnish more gentle slopes. The mountain form, in all ofits irregularity and variety, depends upon the action of theagents of denudation upon the rocks of different hardnesswhich have been folded into more or less complex the mountains are regions of heavy rainfall; butif they rise to a very considerable elevation, this comesmostly in the form of snow; and even within the tropics, KALEV
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