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How do fold mountains rise when continents collide?

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Quick Answer

When tectonic plates push together, rock layers crumple, thicken, and are forced upward. The Himalayas formed this way after India collided with Asia about 50 million years ago.

The Full Story

Fold mountains form at convergent plate boundaries where compression shortens the crust. Instead of simply breaking, layered rocks can buckle into folds and thrust faults, stacking material and thickening the crust. The extra thickness makes the crust buoyant enough to rise high above sea level. The Himalayas and the Alps are famous examples of mountain belts built by continental collision.

Key Facts

1.The Himalayas began forming about 50 million years ago
2.Compression creates folds and thrust faults
3.Continental collision thickens crust and raises mountains

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"How do two continents squeeze a mountain range upward?"