You will be able to: Describe, with the aid of a diagram, how fold mountains are formed
Explain why fold mountains are found in certain locations
Describe the social and economic impacts of fold mountains in the Alps.
4.1 Formation of Fold Mountains
Fold mountains are found on plate boundaries where two plates have collided. As the two plates collide, the heavier oceanic plate sinks into the mantle below. The lighter continental plate is forced upwards, with the layers of rock in the crust becoming folded. The long ridges, known as anticlines , are the mountains. The downfolds (valleys) in between the ridges are known as the synclines .