Skip to Main Content

Earth and Environment Atlas

How The Planet Works

Sign In

Text size

100%

Theme

Switch Atlas

Interactive AtlasThe Family Home

The Inner World

The Civil World

The Natural World

Science AtlasHow We Know What We Know
Geography AtlasWhere Everything Happened
Medicine AtlasHow Healing Is Practiced
Food and Drink AtlasHow The World Eats
Nature AtlasHow Nature Works
Mathematics AtlasHow Proof Is Made
Space and Astronomy AtlasHow The Universe Works
Earth and Environment AtlasHow The Planet WorksCurrent Atlas
Health and Wellness AtlasHow The Body Thrives
Agriculture and Farming AtlasHow The World Is Fed
Energy AtlasHow The World Is Powered

Process

Orogeny

oh-ROJ-uh-nee

Also Known As Mountain Building

Geology

The building of mountain belts where converging plates crumple, thicken and uplift the crust. The Himalaya, still rising as India drives into Asia, the Alps, and the ancient worn-down Appalachians each record an orogeny, and reading deformed rock for the mountain belts it once belonged to is one of geology's oldest skills. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts

Timescale

Tens of millions of years for a major mountain belt 1

Driving Force

The collision of tectonic plates, principally continent-continent or continent-arc collision, which thickens and deforms the crust. 1

Resulting Feature

An orogenic belt: one or more mountain ranges formed as the compressed plate crumples and is uplifted. 1

Significance

Orogeny builds the world's major mountain ranges and is a principal way geologists identify ancient plate boundaries now buried deep within continental interiors. 1

Driving Force

Driving Force (category)

Tectonic 1

Timescale

Timescale (category)

Years to Decades 1

Orogeny

5 entries

Formation Family

Discipline

Formation Type

Where

Alvar

Kuppe

Peninsula

Pingo

Waterfall

Connections

Associated With

A fold belt is a common feature of orogenic zones.

Source Fold, Geology (Wikipedia)

Caused By

Plate Tectonics

Mountain belts rise where converging plates collide or subduct.

Source Orogeny (Wikipedia)

Causes

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Dambulla Rock

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Dedo de Deus

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Diran

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Distaghil Sar

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Drakensberg

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Dufek Massif

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Dundret

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Ediacara Hills

Ellsworth Mountains

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Ellsworth Mountains

Executive Committee Range

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Executive Committee Range

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Falso Azufre

Fort Valley (Virginia)

Source Fort Valley (Virginia) (Wikipedia)

Gamburtsev Mountains

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Gasherbrum I

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Gasherbrum II

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Gasherbrum III

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Gasherbrum IV

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Glarnisch

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Glen

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Granite Dome

Hajar Mountains

Source Hill chain (Wikipedia)

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Hogback

Horns of Hattin

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Horns of Hattin

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Huangshan

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Huascaran

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Huayna Potosi

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Illampu

Source Illimani (Wikipedia)

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Incahuasi

Ismoil Somoni Peak

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Ismoil Somoni Peak

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Jebel Barkal

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Jebel Uweinat

Jengish Chokusu

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Jengish Chokusu

Source Jura Mountains (Wikipedia)

K2

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: K2

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Kanjut Sar

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Karst

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Khan Tengri

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Kjerag

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Kjeragbolten

Klyuchevskaya Sopka

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Klyuchevskaya Sopka

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Kokerbin Rock

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Kongur Tagh

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Kuppe

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: La Pedriza

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Lassen Peak

Lewis Overthrust

Wikidata P31 (Q1479638) mapped to formative process Orogeny via earth5 extended reviewed judgment map; source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Lewis Overthrust

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Orogeny via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Liathach

Showing 51 to 100 of 238 in Causes, page 2 of 5.

In Discipline

Source Orogeny (Wikipedia)

Sources

1. Orogeny (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia Foundation

Introduction
An orogenic belt or orogen develops as the compressed plate crumples and is uplifted to form one or more mountain ranges.
Introduction, definition sentence
is a mountain-building process that takes place at a convergent plate margin when plate motion compresses the margin.

View the Source

Jura Mountains (Wikipedia)

Causes: Jura Mountains, Article text

Quote, Causes: Jura Mountains, Article text

This deformation accommodates the compression from alpine folding as the main Alpine orogenic front moves roughly northwards.

View the Source

Caledonian orogeny (Wikipedia)

Causes: Caledonian Orogeny, Lead paragraph

Quote, Causes: Caledonian Orogeny, Lead paragraph

The Caledonian orogeny was a mountain-building cycle recorded in the northern parts of the British Isles, the Scandinavian Caledonides, Svalbard, eastern Greenland and parts of north-central Europe

View the Source

Illimani (Wikipedia)

Causes: Illimani, Lead paragraph

Quote, Causes: Illimani, Lead paragraph

Its formation results from the ancient folding associated with the Andean orogeny, as with the majority of the neighboring mountains in the cordillera

View the Source

Muddus plains (Wikipedia)

Causes: Muddus Plains, Lead paragraph

Quote, Causes: Muddus Plains, Lead paragraph

The plains formed in connection to the uplift of the northern Scandinavian Mountains in the Paleogene

View the Source

Vasquez Rocks (Wikipedia)

Causes: Vasquez Rocks, Lead section (caused-by Orogeny)

Quote, Causes: Vasquez Rocks, Lead section (caused-by Orogeny)

It is known for its rock formations, the result of sedimentary layering and later tectonic uplift.

View the Source

Trans-Hudson orogeny (Wikipedia)

Causes: Trans-Hudson Orogen, Lead

Quote, Causes: Trans-Hudson Orogen, Lead

The Trans-Hudson orogeny or Trans-Hudsonian orogeny was the major mountain building event (orogeny) that formed the Precambrian Canadian Shield and the North American Craton (also called Laurentia), forging the initial North American continent.

View the Source

Mountain chain (Wikipedia)

Causes: Mountain chain, Lead sentence

Quote, Causes: Mountain chain, Lead sentence

Elongated mountain chains occur most frequently in the orogeny of fold mountains, (that are folded by lateral pressure), and nappe belts (where a sheetlike body of rock has been pushed over another rock mass).

View the Source

Hill chain (Wikipedia)

Causes: Hill chain, Lead sentence

Quote, Causes: Hill chain, Lead sentence

The chain-like arrangement of hills in a chain is a consequence of their collective formation by mountain building forces or ice age earth movements.

View the Source

Chink (geology) (Wikipedia)

Causes: Chink (geology), Lead sentence

Quote, Causes: Chink (geology), Lead sentence

Chinks may also result from tectonic uplifts.

View the Source

Piedmonttreppen (Wikipedia)

Causes: Piedmonttreppen, Lead sentence

Quote, Causes: Piedmonttreppen, Lead sentence

A piedmonttreppen or piedmont benchland is a conceived landform consisting in a succession of benches at different heights and that forms in sequence during the uplift of a geological dome.

View the Source

Central Valley (California) (Wikipedia)

Causes: Central Valley (California), Article text

Quote, Causes: Central Valley (California), Article text

The valley was enclosed by the uplift of the Coast Ranges, with its original outlet into Monterey Bay.

View the Source

Spiti (Wikipedia)

Causes: Spiti, Article text

Quote, Causes: Spiti, Article text

Over millennia, the Spiti River and its tributaries such as the Pin River, have cut deep gorges in the uplifted sedimentary strata.

View the Source

Fort Valley (Virginia) (Wikipedia)

Causes: Fort Valley (Virginia), Article text

Quote, Causes: Fort Valley (Virginia), Article text

The Fort Valley and Massanutten mountain range is the result of the Alleghanian Orogeny, the geologic process where a continental plate crumples and is pushed upwards to form mountain ranges.

View the Source

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.

Reader Challenges (0)

No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.